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BLACK GOLD
In less than an hour, an innocent girl's dream goes bust, a delicate, interracial marriage teeters on the edge of the abyss, a time-honored friendship shatters, and a family implodes on account of one man's crazy and senseless attachment to a custom that seeks to determine who should be married and to whom.
Femi and Jessica, a young, interracial couple with 1st Class degrees in Chemistry & Economics land two spectacular job offers within the first week of graduation, and their bleak honeymoon is transformed into a dream. But that's before he takes her home to meet his parents...
What's worse? They don't know that undisclosed details of their dream job will pitch them against each other and drag them to the place where dreams end and nightmares begin.
Will their fragile marriage survive the greed and the captivating allure of Black Gold?
Femi and Jessica, a young, interracial couple with 1st Class degrees in Chemistry & Economics land two spectacular job offers within the first week of graduation, and their bleak honeymoon is transformed into a dream. But that's before he takes her home to meet his parents...
What's worse? They don't know that undisclosed details of their dream job will pitch them against each other and drag them to the place where dreams end and nightmares begin.
Will their fragile marriage survive the greed and the captivating allure of Black Gold?
Paperback
First published May 13, 2017
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About the author
Augustine Sam
7 books15 followersAugustine Sam is a journalist by profession, a novelist by choice, and a poet by chance. A bilingual writer and an award-winning poet, he writes, not only hard news but literary works as well.
Before becoming a multi-genre author, he fell in love with poetry the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once. He was the winner of the Editors’ Choice Award in the North America Open Poetry Contest. His poems have been published in international anthologies, including "Measures of the Heart" & "Sounds of Silence."
His poetry collection: "Flashes of Emotion" was the 2015 finalist in the International Book Award Contest.
To learn more about the author visit his website or join him on Facebook & Twitter
Before becoming a multi-genre author, he fell in love with poetry the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once. He was the winner of the Editors’ Choice Award in the North America Open Poetry Contest. His poems have been published in international anthologies, including "Measures of the Heart" & "Sounds of Silence."
His poetry collection: "Flashes of Emotion" was the 2015 finalist in the International Book Award Contest.
To learn more about the author visit his website or join him on Facebook & Twitter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 2, 2018
Despite my fantasies about the shades of E.M. Forster and Scott Fitzgerald weeping and wringing their hands in the background, this wasn’t completely terrible. It was a short story stretched painfully and unnecessarily out into a novella. The best bit about it was the aim of the story – an examination of a mixed race graduate honeymoon couple whose relationship is put under pressure when the young man’s first job offer goes horribly wrong. Instead of being hired for his first class degree in Chemistry, he is used by a large multinational company as their ‘token Nigerian’ puppet to gain a foothold into a Nigerian Oil project, and is expected to prance around in traditional costume, speak Yoruba and bribe government ministers to push the deal through. The scene where the young man takes his new American bride back to visit his parents without having first informed them of her existence is riveting, agonising and devastating as he runs unsuspectingly into a titanic clash between his parents’ traditional values and his own European education, and this passage stands out as a gem of what this book could have achieved if that level of writing and insight had been sustained throughout the tale.
Unfortunately the rest of the book consists of interminable scenes of them standing around in airports waiting for baggage or staring out of windows, shaking, trembling, and tottering for no apparent reason. I set out hoping to really like this book, and tried to suppress my immediate grumblings. Like, how could he possibly have a bad suit? He’s just spent several years doing a degree in Italy. I know he’s poor but even a suit bought in a charity shop in Venice would be sharper than one anywhere else in the world! A man doesn’t sprout a goatee by accident – that’s a fashion decision. No man with a goatee would have a terrible suit. (Unless you consider choosing to sport a goatee a terrible fashion decision in the first place?) And as for the girl! She is meant to be intelligent and have a first class Economics degree from the same Venetian university. She’s researched Monte Carlo to death for the honeymoon. And yet she opens her big blue eyes wide in amazement when her new husband tells her about Monaco’s billion dollar turnover. Come on – are we to believe an Economics graduate from a European university wouldn’t already know all about that? The girl spends the whole book fluffing up her blonde hair, acting shallow, needy, and manipulative, and otherwise appears to have had her personality surgically removed. I couldn’t understand their relationship. I couldn’t understand what all their endless glances, silences and touches were supposed to denote. The sex scene (which went on for what seemed like pages) was so bad I was rolling on the floor with laughter, which was unfortunate as my husband then walked in and demanded to know what I was reading. Women, take my advice and never get caught reading a sex scene by your husband. Not only did he insist on me reading it aloud (in case he was missing out on something), but now I have to suffer him quoting lines back to me…
I know I’m sounding bitchy, and I don’t mean to be. But I found every interpersonal interaction in the story completely inexplicable, and most of the descriptions pointless, repetitive, hysterical and overwrought. I didn’t even understand the import of the last line of the story. And ultimately that is a shame, as the basic premise was interesting, but is badly let down by the execution.
Unfortunately the rest of the book consists of interminable scenes of them standing around in airports waiting for baggage or staring out of windows, shaking, trembling, and tottering for no apparent reason. I set out hoping to really like this book, and tried to suppress my immediate grumblings. Like, how could he possibly have a bad suit? He’s just spent several years doing a degree in Italy. I know he’s poor but even a suit bought in a charity shop in Venice would be sharper than one anywhere else in the world! A man doesn’t sprout a goatee by accident – that’s a fashion decision. No man with a goatee would have a terrible suit. (Unless you consider choosing to sport a goatee a terrible fashion decision in the first place?) And as for the girl! She is meant to be intelligent and have a first class Economics degree from the same Venetian university. She’s researched Monte Carlo to death for the honeymoon. And yet she opens her big blue eyes wide in amazement when her new husband tells her about Monaco’s billion dollar turnover. Come on – are we to believe an Economics graduate from a European university wouldn’t already know all about that? The girl spends the whole book fluffing up her blonde hair, acting shallow, needy, and manipulative, and otherwise appears to have had her personality surgically removed. I couldn’t understand their relationship. I couldn’t understand what all their endless glances, silences and touches were supposed to denote. The sex scene (which went on for what seemed like pages) was so bad I was rolling on the floor with laughter, which was unfortunate as my husband then walked in and demanded to know what I was reading. Women, take my advice and never get caught reading a sex scene by your husband. Not only did he insist on me reading it aloud (in case he was missing out on something), but now I have to suffer him quoting lines back to me…
I know I’m sounding bitchy, and I don’t mean to be. But I found every interpersonal interaction in the story completely inexplicable, and most of the descriptions pointless, repetitive, hysterical and overwrought. I didn’t even understand the import of the last line of the story. And ultimately that is a shame, as the basic premise was interesting, but is badly let down by the execution.
February 20, 2018
This story straddles the border between novel and novella, but really could have been cut down a little so that it was firmly in the novella category. I see what the author was trying to do showing the Nigerian and Italian cultures, but at the same time, maybe some of the several airplane and airport scenes could have been cut down a little.
The story itself is interesting. Femi has what he thinks is 2 job offers after graduating first class from an Italian university. His fiance Jessica convinces him to play both sides and just go to New York for the first offer and see what happens. The first offer is an oil agency who just wants to use Femi as a token Nigerian for an oil deal they are trying to broker.
While the twists and turns of the story did keep me entertained, especially towards the end, when I finished the book, I was asking myself a few questions. It was mentioned several times that both Femi and Jessica both have first class degrees. I have to wonder how they managed to graduate with such distinction, but neither of them asked a huge question. "Hey, I'm a research chemist, why are they using me for negotiations for a deal?" and just gotten the hell out of there
The story itself is interesting. Femi has what he thinks is 2 job offers after graduating first class from an Italian university. His fiance Jessica convinces him to play both sides and just go to New York for the first offer and see what happens. The first offer is an oil agency who just wants to use Femi as a token Nigerian for an oil deal they are trying to broker.
While the twists and turns of the story did keep me entertained, especially towards the end, when I finished the book, I was asking myself a few questions. It was mentioned several times that both Femi and Jessica both have first class degrees. I have to wonder how they managed to graduate with such distinction, but neither of them asked a huge question. "Hey, I'm a research chemist, why are they using me for negotiations for a deal?" and just gotten the hell out of there
November 2, 2017
A fast paced inter-cultural romantic thriller that reads like silk.
Femi, a promising Nigerian chemist, and Jessica, a bright American economist, receive two job offers while on their shoe-string honeymoon. Recently graduated though, they are easily manipulated into the role of mere pawns in a high-stakes real-life chess-game of corporate greed and political corruption.
The prose is often almost poetic, and sprinkled with quirky analogies. While some minor scenes are described in lush detail, the main story line sometimes feels a bit rushed or underdeveloped, taking some of the power or credibility out of several important moments. The ending seems to hint that there may be more to the story still to come.
Femi, a promising Nigerian chemist, and Jessica, a bright American economist, receive two job offers while on their shoe-string honeymoon. Recently graduated though, they are easily manipulated into the role of mere pawns in a high-stakes real-life chess-game of corporate greed and political corruption.
The prose is often almost poetic, and sprinkled with quirky analogies. While some minor scenes are described in lush detail, the main story line sometimes feels a bit rushed or underdeveloped, taking some of the power or credibility out of several important moments. The ending seems to hint that there may be more to the story still to come.
December 2, 2017
Now the story in here is decent, and the background knowledge re Nigerian culture and, for instance, the corruption and machinations within the oil industry, plus the international corporations jostling for an in on the fourth largest oil-producing nation on earth, all provide a fascinating premise. It could have been a John-Grisham style high-powered thriller with juicy inside understanding of a culture with which the average western reader is not too familiar. Add politics, hot climate and arranged marriage into the mix and the brew is potentially explosive, in a good way.
But for me it was a slog to get through. I am not a fan of overblown prose, and the prose here is very overblown. A taxi ride takes seven pages with nothing but over-written thoughts and descriptions; every facial change of expression is laboriously described: plane rides and waiting for luggage at a terminal take almost as long in the story as they do in real life – and in real life they aren’t interesting: the truth is, they’re not interesting in fiction either.
From pages one and two, but very typical:
“Jessica Rhodes, a young, cheery honeymooner, stood transfixed, clasping her right hand over her mouth as she took in the spectacle with wide eyes. The electric atmosphere, so sudden and utterly unexpected, both surprised and thrilled her. She heard sounds of a commotion emanating from the piazza, growing more enthusiastic with every second that passed and enlivening her as the crowd burgeoned. Speechless, undistracted by the noise, she propped her head on the arms of the tall man behind her and let out her breath in a long exhalation. Then, absorbed in the view, she stood there, marveling at the city and its brazen opulence which seemed to cut a wide swathe through its aristocratic soul, assuming a life of its own.”
My personal preference would be for something like:
“Jessica Rhodes laughed and clutched her new husband’s arm as they looked forward to the changing of the guard, thrilled by Monte Carlo’s opulence and the electric atmosphere...”
Whereas in facts this scene bloats out for another half dozen pages. Plus some phrases, such as: “its brazen opulence which seemed to cut a wide swathe through its aristocratic soul,” don’t even make sense.
Also there are some definite sexist attitudes in here, eg Femi’s shame that he hasn’t got much money: even though they are both recent brilliant graduates, his perception is that he should be supporting his wife, ie it is his role to be the breadwinner.
This might sound negative, but as I say: there is a good story in here fighting to get out. The author is obviously highly knowledgeable about the economics, politics and culture of Nigeria which could be fascinating, but the prose is hard work. I would suggest reading some good authors with a talent for concision and clarity. For instance, Adrian McKinty the Irish thriller writer is a master of brevity, or everyone’s old favorite Hemingway. Not that we all want to be super-concise, at all, but reading authors with an entirely different style of writing can be illuminating.
For me the prose would point to a two star read, but the potential of the story and interesting background make it a three.
For more of Brin’s reviews, go to
http://www.brinmurray.com/review-blog...
But for me it was a slog to get through. I am not a fan of overblown prose, and the prose here is very overblown. A taxi ride takes seven pages with nothing but over-written thoughts and descriptions; every facial change of expression is laboriously described: plane rides and waiting for luggage at a terminal take almost as long in the story as they do in real life – and in real life they aren’t interesting: the truth is, they’re not interesting in fiction either.
From pages one and two, but very typical:
“Jessica Rhodes, a young, cheery honeymooner, stood transfixed, clasping her right hand over her mouth as she took in the spectacle with wide eyes. The electric atmosphere, so sudden and utterly unexpected, both surprised and thrilled her. She heard sounds of a commotion emanating from the piazza, growing more enthusiastic with every second that passed and enlivening her as the crowd burgeoned. Speechless, undistracted by the noise, she propped her head on the arms of the tall man behind her and let out her breath in a long exhalation. Then, absorbed in the view, she stood there, marveling at the city and its brazen opulence which seemed to cut a wide swathe through its aristocratic soul, assuming a life of its own.”
My personal preference would be for something like:
“Jessica Rhodes laughed and clutched her new husband’s arm as they looked forward to the changing of the guard, thrilled by Monte Carlo’s opulence and the electric atmosphere...”
Whereas in facts this scene bloats out for another half dozen pages. Plus some phrases, such as: “its brazen opulence which seemed to cut a wide swathe through its aristocratic soul,” don’t even make sense.
Also there are some definite sexist attitudes in here, eg Femi’s shame that he hasn’t got much money: even though they are both recent brilliant graduates, his perception is that he should be supporting his wife, ie it is his role to be the breadwinner.
This might sound negative, but as I say: there is a good story in here fighting to get out. The author is obviously highly knowledgeable about the economics, politics and culture of Nigeria which could be fascinating, but the prose is hard work. I would suggest reading some good authors with a talent for concision and clarity. For instance, Adrian McKinty the Irish thriller writer is a master of brevity, or everyone’s old favorite Hemingway. Not that we all want to be super-concise, at all, but reading authors with an entirely different style of writing can be illuminating.
For me the prose would point to a two star read, but the potential of the story and interesting background make it a three.
For more of Brin’s reviews, go to
http://www.brinmurray.com/review-blog...
November 7, 2017
This isn't a genre I usually read but wow, I was intrigued from the start, with two obviously intelligent characters in love and facing the challenges of an interracial marriage. I couldn't help but want them to stay together and happy in spite of the difficulties this thriller spun them through. The fast-pace, as well as the likable characters, made me wish this was a longer story. Very exciting read!
February 22, 2018
The lead characters in this story are two graduates: Femi, a Nigerian-born African, and his wife, Jessica, a white American, both of whom have scientific degrees from Venice university. The plot centres around Femi’s successful application for a job with an Italian oil company that then sets him up to bribe to a Nigerian government minister in order to secure a deal, and the consequent pressure this places on the couple’s relationship.
This was an interesting story, though I felt the characters could have been developed further, and I came away feeling that I hadn’t really got to know any of them. Some of the airport scenes were a little repetitive, and in places the prose was rather too flowery for my liking. The story has romantic elements between the two main characters, although with a little more development it would also make a good thriller
This was an interesting story, though I felt the characters could have been developed further, and I came away feeling that I hadn’t really got to know any of them. Some of the airport scenes were a little repetitive, and in places the prose was rather too flowery for my liking. The story has romantic elements between the two main characters, although with a little more development it would also make a good thriller
June 28, 2018
Black Gold, by Augustine Sam, is a novella that is hard to pin down into a single genre. Part romance, part travelogue, part thriller, and part corporate mystery - it is a complex read. Nevertheless, it’s short, fast-paced chapters also make this a swift read.
Femi and Jessica are newlyweds embarking on their honeymoon as the novel opens. Having just graduated with higher degrees in Chemistry and Economics, they are both looking for jobs as they begin their lives together. Femi receives two offers, the decision between them being the major tension in the novella at this point. The couple are soon jet-setting between airports in Monte Carlo, California, Italy and then Nigeria - as they mix business with pleasure and family reunions in the span of a few days.
While the prose is tight with, at times, the hint of a poet’s descriptive eye - I soon tired of reading about another stint in an airport. My penchant for beautiful, travelogue prose is such that I wanted more to happen outside of airports and hotels. The romance between Jessica, an American, and Femi, a Nigerian - (highlighted as an interracial relationship that his parents could not accept) - was interesting, but it also felt like an unnecessary bit of drama in the midst of what becomes a corporate mystery surrounding Femi’s choice to take a job with the VanChemical company.
Femi becomes a pawn, used by VanChemical not as a research chemist, but as a token Nigerian who the chairman is only using to gain a take in a lucrative deal from the Nigerian prime minister. Meanwhile, Jessica’s own prospects are sidelined for the better part of the novella - and her character, as a result, felt a bit unbelievable to me. A highly educated and worldly woman in her own right, would she really have followed Femi across the world and waited for “her man” to figure things out?
In the end, Jessica does get her time in the spotlight, and is rewarded on her own terms. And Femi’s troubles are, for the most part, wrapped up - leaving the couple to begin the corporate lives of their dreams. Though I ended this novella with mixed feelings, it is one that mixes genres and will be an intriguing read for those who enjoy contemporary romance mixed with international mystery.
Femi and Jessica are newlyweds embarking on their honeymoon as the novel opens. Having just graduated with higher degrees in Chemistry and Economics, they are both looking for jobs as they begin their lives together. Femi receives two offers, the decision between them being the major tension in the novella at this point. The couple are soon jet-setting between airports in Monte Carlo, California, Italy and then Nigeria - as they mix business with pleasure and family reunions in the span of a few days.
While the prose is tight with, at times, the hint of a poet’s descriptive eye - I soon tired of reading about another stint in an airport. My penchant for beautiful, travelogue prose is such that I wanted more to happen outside of airports and hotels. The romance between Jessica, an American, and Femi, a Nigerian - (highlighted as an interracial relationship that his parents could not accept) - was interesting, but it also felt like an unnecessary bit of drama in the midst of what becomes a corporate mystery surrounding Femi’s choice to take a job with the VanChemical company.
Femi becomes a pawn, used by VanChemical not as a research chemist, but as a token Nigerian who the chairman is only using to gain a take in a lucrative deal from the Nigerian prime minister. Meanwhile, Jessica’s own prospects are sidelined for the better part of the novella - and her character, as a result, felt a bit unbelievable to me. A highly educated and worldly woman in her own right, would she really have followed Femi across the world and waited for “her man” to figure things out?
In the end, Jessica does get her time in the spotlight, and is rewarded on her own terms. And Femi’s troubles are, for the most part, wrapped up - leaving the couple to begin the corporate lives of their dreams. Though I ended this novella with mixed feelings, it is one that mixes genres and will be an intriguing read for those who enjoy contemporary romance mixed with international mystery.
November 3, 2017
“Black Gold” is the latest novel from indie writer Augustine Sam. By my count, this is his fourth novel, and he has another one on the way. The novel is quite short, and resides in the gray area somewhere between a novella and a full-length novel.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the novel is the novelist himself. Mr. Sam describes himself as “a journalist by profession, a novelist by choice, and a poet by chance.” As you can imagine, with a background like that, the author can really turn a phrase, and “Black Gold” is chock-full of lyrical imagery and metaphors. Frequently, the result is beautiful:
“Eager to gauge the sentiments of others, the sisters cast a furtive glance around them, noticing as they did so, a woebegone look on their mother’s face. They turned in time to see their father’s ugly stare before he narrowed his eyes-a telltale sign of trouble-disillusionment transforming his desolate visage into something akin to a grim, fragmentary sculpture.”
At other times, however, it feels like the author is overwriting, and needlessly trying to impress the reader. One such example is the frequent use of “envisage” (“She grinned as they moved up the queue quicker than envisaged.” Not my favorite word, but a matter of preference.)
I’d describe the plot and theme as almost John Grishamesque: An eager, successful young couple become swept up by the promise of astounding wealth, and they fall prey to a multinational corporation’s dangerous schemes. Despite the beautiful language, much of the novel felt somewhat underdeveloped and a little implausible to me, including the protagonist’s relationship, the shady corporate recruitment, the family reunion, and the ending. I think if the author wrote a longer novel, there would have been more time to fully develop some of these things.
Additionally, I’m not a fan of this book’s cover. If I didn’t know anything about the book, based on the cover I would assume it was more of a romance/erotica bit of titillation, and not the serious book that it is. I think the novel would be better served by a different cover.
Bottom line, Augustine Sam is a fascinating writer with loads of talent. With a fifth book on the way and tons of accolades for his poetry, he is establishing himself in the literary world. Despite the frequently delightful language, I thought the relationships and plot in this short novel were a little under-developed, and I rate the book 3.5 stars. This is an intriguing author, however, and I have my eye on some of his other works, especially “Conspiracy of Silence.”
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the novel is the novelist himself. Mr. Sam describes himself as “a journalist by profession, a novelist by choice, and a poet by chance.” As you can imagine, with a background like that, the author can really turn a phrase, and “Black Gold” is chock-full of lyrical imagery and metaphors. Frequently, the result is beautiful:
“Eager to gauge the sentiments of others, the sisters cast a furtive glance around them, noticing as they did so, a woebegone look on their mother’s face. They turned in time to see their father’s ugly stare before he narrowed his eyes-a telltale sign of trouble-disillusionment transforming his desolate visage into something akin to a grim, fragmentary sculpture.”
At other times, however, it feels like the author is overwriting, and needlessly trying to impress the reader. One such example is the frequent use of “envisage” (“She grinned as they moved up the queue quicker than envisaged.” Not my favorite word, but a matter of preference.)
I’d describe the plot and theme as almost John Grishamesque: An eager, successful young couple become swept up by the promise of astounding wealth, and they fall prey to a multinational corporation’s dangerous schemes. Despite the beautiful language, much of the novel felt somewhat underdeveloped and a little implausible to me, including the protagonist’s relationship, the shady corporate recruitment, the family reunion, and the ending. I think if the author wrote a longer novel, there would have been more time to fully develop some of these things.
Additionally, I’m not a fan of this book’s cover. If I didn’t know anything about the book, based on the cover I would assume it was more of a romance/erotica bit of titillation, and not the serious book that it is. I think the novel would be better served by a different cover.
Bottom line, Augustine Sam is a fascinating writer with loads of talent. With a fifth book on the way and tons of accolades for his poetry, he is establishing himself in the literary world. Despite the frequently delightful language, I thought the relationships and plot in this short novel were a little under-developed, and I rate the book 3.5 stars. This is an intriguing author, however, and I have my eye on some of his other works, especially “Conspiracy of Silence.”
May 30, 2017
Monte Carlo, Monaco. Grimaldi Palace. Anthony Femi Adeola (Nigerian, Yoruba, Ca’ Foscari U, Venice, Chemistry,) & Jessica Rhodes (Ca’ Foscari U, Venice, San Diego St. U, Economics) were enjoying their honeymoon.
New York, NY. Anthony had a job interview with Mario Casagrande (I/A, husband/father, VenChemical Group chairman).
Anthony was to be the Chief of Staff & head up the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) & be a Research Chemist for VenChemical.
Ibadan, Nigeria. What did the happy couple find out from Anthony’s parents?
What was Babatunde discussing with Anthony?
Lagos, Nigeria. Anthony next met Eric Peterson (VenChemical, Manhattan, NY).
Anthony has been invited to attend the West African International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference WAIPEC).
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written international thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great international thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued? I fwlt I was left hanging but I will still rate it at 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Author Suite Books; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
New York, NY. Anthony had a job interview with Mario Casagrande (I/A, husband/father, VenChemical Group chairman).
Anthony was to be the Chief of Staff & head up the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) & be a Research Chemist for VenChemical.
Ibadan, Nigeria. What did the happy couple find out from Anthony’s parents?
What was Babatunde discussing with Anthony?
Lagos, Nigeria. Anthony next met Eric Peterson (VenChemical, Manhattan, NY).
Anthony has been invited to attend the West African International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference WAIPEC).
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written international thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great international thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued? I fwlt I was left hanging but I will still rate it at 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Author Suite Books; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
June 15, 2017
Black Gold is a thriller romance written about an interracial couple that are in love and marry after graduating with first class degrees. Jessica is white and into Economics. Femi is black and into Chemistry. Femi ends up landing a really good job. They fly to see if the job is suitable and soon find out that Femi’s boss is potentially wrecking their marriage. Being chief of staff to a corrupt minister is not why he really went to school for. The story consists of multiple stories intertwined and scenarios played out, working against them being together, which were also racially connected.
I felt that the story was written well and the plot was realistically put together. The ending does not bring much closure to the reader and the characters lacked some depth, however, all together I believe the author has great potential in creating edgy and sensitive works.
I particularly liked the title of the book. It really blends with the storyline and I believe it displays how much research has gone into the created work. Things really do go south for Femi, and I found the character to be very interesting, considering what he had to deal with.
There is an incident where Femi is confronted by his parents. He brings the news that he is a married man, returning home. His parents then tell him that they have chosen a wife for him and disapprove of Jessica, in a very insulting way. I believe this segment is written superbly and displays the strength and potential this author has for great writing.
I believe anyone that enjoys thriller suspense romance novels would enjoy this one.
I felt that the story was written well and the plot was realistically put together. The ending does not bring much closure to the reader and the characters lacked some depth, however, all together I believe the author has great potential in creating edgy and sensitive works.
I particularly liked the title of the book. It really blends with the storyline and I believe it displays how much research has gone into the created work. Things really do go south for Femi, and I found the character to be very interesting, considering what he had to deal with.
There is an incident where Femi is confronted by his parents. He brings the news that he is a married man, returning home. His parents then tell him that they have chosen a wife for him and disapprove of Jessica, in a very insulting way. I believe this segment is written superbly and displays the strength and potential this author has for great writing.
I believe anyone that enjoys thriller suspense romance novels would enjoy this one.
July 29, 2018
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Black Gold is an interesting book about an interracial marriage that is full of emotional angst, scorching love scenes, a compelling storyline that is intriguing, with some humor, and it involves political corruption and corporate greed. I must admit, it was slow at first to follow—but once I kept reading, I was able to adhere to the story. Femi (Nigerian) and Jessica (American) are college graduates—first class degrees—one in chemistry and one in economics. They fell in love while in Venice, and they are also recent newlyweds. While on their honeymoon and broke, Femi had two great job offers. After Femi takes the job offer in America, and Jessica takes another job, things start to go downward for the young couple. For some very smart individuals, they did not think this through when the jobs were offered because there were some undisclosed details attached to the jobs. What happens next? Will their marriage survive? I felt something was missing—the author did not delve into the character’s relationship enough—more romance between the couples. There are several twists and turns within the storyline that is full of intrigue that it will pique your interest.
Black Gold is an interesting book about an interracial marriage that is full of emotional angst, scorching love scenes, a compelling storyline that is intriguing, with some humor, and it involves political corruption and corporate greed. I must admit, it was slow at first to follow—but once I kept reading, I was able to adhere to the story. Femi (Nigerian) and Jessica (American) are college graduates—first class degrees—one in chemistry and one in economics. They fell in love while in Venice, and they are also recent newlyweds. While on their honeymoon and broke, Femi had two great job offers. After Femi takes the job offer in America, and Jessica takes another job, things start to go downward for the young couple. For some very smart individuals, they did not think this through when the jobs were offered because there were some undisclosed details attached to the jobs. What happens next? Will their marriage survive? I felt something was missing—the author did not delve into the character’s relationship enough—more romance between the couples. There are several twists and turns within the storyline that is full of intrigue that it will pique your interest.
April 23, 2018
This is not my normal genre to read, but the author kept the story interesting and his writing is different from anything else I've read before. Having said that, I would definitely read another book by him.
The way Femi and Jess go into the world, innocently in love, and the way reality attacks them seemingly around every corner is quite harrowing. The airport scene in Nigeria where Jess meets Femi's parents is extremely well written. A lot of people in Africa and elsewhere still prescribe to the ancient way of doing things and their belief in this is mostly total. There's no room for mistakes here... yet many young African people are finding their own way and often an interracial relationship is involved. Well written.
This is not the end for these two, it seems it's only the beginning in their world of massive corporations with greed as the main course. For now though, love wins.
I received this book from the author for free, and I try to do a review for every book of fiction I read.
The way Femi and Jess go into the world, innocently in love, and the way reality attacks them seemingly around every corner is quite harrowing. The airport scene in Nigeria where Jess meets Femi's parents is extremely well written. A lot of people in Africa and elsewhere still prescribe to the ancient way of doing things and their belief in this is mostly total. There's no room for mistakes here... yet many young African people are finding their own way and often an interracial relationship is involved. Well written.
This is not the end for these two, it seems it's only the beginning in their world of massive corporations with greed as the main course. For now though, love wins.
I received this book from the author for free, and I try to do a review for every book of fiction I read.
July 15, 2017
This book was amazing!! I was so involved in reading the book. Femi and Jessica are an unusual pairing. Theirs is an interracial marriage and already has had its share of challenges. And now there's a new challenge they have to face.
I was hooked to this book. And I was amazed at how the author pushed in so much of the plot in a relatively small book. I was totally absorbed in Femi and Jessica's story. Of how they navigated the latest challenge in their life. It really drove home a message that in some cases, we are really not in control of what happens in our life. I could relate to Femi and Jessica and feel for them. The writing was easy to read and very simple yet I could not step away from the book. The plot was unusual and the characters different and well fleshed out. That's what I liked, that nothing was compromised in terms of character development.
I enjoyed this book a lot!
I was hooked to this book. And I was amazed at how the author pushed in so much of the plot in a relatively small book. I was totally absorbed in Femi and Jessica's story. Of how they navigated the latest challenge in their life. It really drove home a message that in some cases, we are really not in control of what happens in our life. I could relate to Femi and Jessica and feel for them. The writing was easy to read and very simple yet I could not step away from the book. The plot was unusual and the characters different and well fleshed out. That's what I liked, that nothing was compromised in terms of character development.
I enjoyed this book a lot!
May 21, 2017
Black Gold was a good read. I found it a bit short for my taste and with that I don't feel you get as much character description. I liked the story line, however, and thought that it was really well written. The ending was a bit abrupt and could have used more detail and description but I do recommend this book as a quick summer read.
Femi and Jessica met and fell in love in Venice while in school. They both have a first class degree, one in chemistry, the other in economics. They're in love, and broke, but this doesn't stop them from living life and making the most of it. When both are offered jobs in different places, life gets to be a bit more realistic. With the job offers come unrealistic expectations and nightmare situations. Will their love be able to survive?
Femi and Jessica met and fell in love in Venice while in school. They both have a first class degree, one in chemistry, the other in economics. They're in love, and broke, but this doesn't stop them from living life and making the most of it. When both are offered jobs in different places, life gets to be a bit more realistic. With the job offers come unrealistic expectations and nightmare situations. Will their love be able to survive?
June 18, 2018
Black Gold tells us about a mixed race couple who are committed to each other and their transition from university life to the working world. The story explores what the couple encounter as their commitment is tested by circumstances and the decisions they must make. Their job offers make them compete with one another and tests their moral compass as they seek to find their way.
I enjoyed the details of the relationship as it unfolded. The story takes them from their honeymoon to their job acceptance. It is an intimate look at small details that create and sustain a relationship. I give it four stars.
I enjoyed the details of the relationship as it unfolded. The story takes them from their honeymoon to their job acceptance. It is an intimate look at small details that create and sustain a relationship. I give it four stars.
June 30, 2018
Black Gold is a well written, romantic drama which depicts the crippling fear that overwhelms a young interracial couple as they are manipulated by greedy people of power and influence. Femi and Jessica also have to face Femi’s family, who believe in the tradition of parents choosing a bride/groom for their child.
I loved the way the author described Femi and Jessica’s relationship – strong, loving and full of laughter. As a person who believes in preserving the positive aspects of our cultures, Black Gold reminded of the necessity of communication and understanding amongst the young and old people of our communities.
I loved the way the author described Femi and Jessica’s relationship – strong, loving and full of laughter. As a person who believes in preserving the positive aspects of our cultures, Black Gold reminded of the necessity of communication and understanding amongst the young and old people of our communities.
May 20, 2017
Black Gold
Augustine Sam
The title says it all. A bliss romance with everything the could go right, can also go wrong.
They fell in love abroad in a foreign country. Each has a first class degree. One in Chemistry and the other in Economics. Within graduation they have a whirlwind romance and get married. They may be broke bit they are happy together through it all. Within weeks of graduation they both receive job offers. What they don't know is that attached to these offers just may be their worst nightmare.
Augustine Sam
The title says it all. A bliss romance with everything the could go right, can also go wrong.
They fell in love abroad in a foreign country. Each has a first class degree. One in Chemistry and the other in Economics. Within graduation they have a whirlwind romance and get married. They may be broke bit they are happy together through it all. Within weeks of graduation they both receive job offers. What they don't know is that attached to these offers just may be their worst nightmare.
September 3, 2017
I thought the story was good. There was a couple of spots that seemed slow. I don’t like Femi’s boss, what a jerk right off the bat. I would of said by, who are you to treat me this way. “Shut UP”, rather be poor than have a boss like that. Things are getting bad, it has him arguing with Jessica, then telling her to shut up. Not good when brings problems into the relationship. So much going on, kept wondering if they were going to get a break. Good story.
Got ARC for an honest review.
Thank you for sharing your book with me.
Got ARC for an honest review.
Thank you for sharing your book with me.
September 2, 2017
I Loved it ! I learned from reading this book. I would read all of the other books in Mr. Augustine Collection because I loved his work and I enjoyed every minute of his book.
July 1, 2017
Not to bad
The story totally has potential to be great but the end was so abrupt. The characters go to college together and marry after they struggle for money and out of no where Femi gets a great job offer. The job seems to draw the young couple into a tangled web of lies and deceit. I wish the story would have lasted a little longer and went a little further into the corruption that would have made it better.
I felt the need to update my review since the book ending was updated. The ending is now much better I feel like I had some closure within the story this ending made the book much more enjoyable.
The story totally has potential to be great but the end was so abrupt. The characters go to college together and marry after they struggle for money and out of no where Femi gets a great job offer. The job seems to draw the young couple into a tangled web of lies and deceit. I wish the story would have lasted a little longer and went a little further into the corruption that would have made it better.
I felt the need to update my review since the book ending was updated. The ending is now much better I feel like I had some closure within the story this ending made the book much more enjoyable.
October 29, 2017
Mystery, Intrigue & Corruption
It’s quite apparent that Sam Augustine is a talented, seasoned writer. As I read the suspenseful mystery, Black Gold, I suspected that Mr. Augustine was a journalist, trying his hand at fiction. His grasp of complicated international matters was very well researched. Corruption in both politics and industry throughout the global economy were alarmingly portrayed.
If the main and only focus of the story was the corruption and the manipulation of Femi and Jessica, the recent college graduates and newlyweds, then the author succeeded. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case and this is where the story fell flat for me. The characters and their relationship were simply not developed enough. It’s a shame really, because the potential for very interesting and exciting material was at the reader’s fingertips, but never explored.
Other than these two young people proclaiming their love here and there, I wouldn’t known it. I didn’t feel the connection. They bickered more than adored. I’m curious to know what drove these two very intelligent people to make the decisions they’d made. Why did they get married before they had jobs? Especially without a penny to their names. Also, why didn’t Remi warn Jessica what she might be in for when she met his family? Was he really that delusional to think that generations of cultural tradition would be ignored?
The ending was satisfying for me because it left open the possibility of a sequel. More intrigue, drama and trouble for this couple to tangle themselves into. My hope is that Augustine will flash back to how it all began. How Remi and Jessica met and fell in love, and how they came to decide that immediate marriage was what they wanted. I need to believe in the romance and see them forge ahead together through the next bind they find themselves in.
It’s quite apparent that Sam Augustine is a talented, seasoned writer. As I read the suspenseful mystery, Black Gold, I suspected that Mr. Augustine was a journalist, trying his hand at fiction. His grasp of complicated international matters was very well researched. Corruption in both politics and industry throughout the global economy were alarmingly portrayed.
If the main and only focus of the story was the corruption and the manipulation of Femi and Jessica, the recent college graduates and newlyweds, then the author succeeded. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case and this is where the story fell flat for me. The characters and their relationship were simply not developed enough. It’s a shame really, because the potential for very interesting and exciting material was at the reader’s fingertips, but never explored.
Other than these two young people proclaiming their love here and there, I wouldn’t known it. I didn’t feel the connection. They bickered more than adored. I’m curious to know what drove these two very intelligent people to make the decisions they’d made. Why did they get married before they had jobs? Especially without a penny to their names. Also, why didn’t Remi warn Jessica what she might be in for when she met his family? Was he really that delusional to think that generations of cultural tradition would be ignored?
The ending was satisfying for me because it left open the possibility of a sequel. More intrigue, drama and trouble for this couple to tangle themselves into. My hope is that Augustine will flash back to how it all began. How Remi and Jessica met and fell in love, and how they came to decide that immediate marriage was what they wanted. I need to believe in the romance and see them forge ahead together through the next bind they find themselves in.
October 12, 2017
Black Gold is literary fiction and follows the lives of two recent graduates. Femi is Nigerian by birth and has a top chemistry degree. Jessica is American and has a degree in economics. They fell in love whilst studying at their Italian university and married on graduation day.
Within a week of graduation, Femi has two top job offers. One is disguised as a research chemist for VenChemical, but Femi soon discovers they really want to make use of his Nigerian background. He is sent to bribe a top minister about a new oil partnership deal.
I think the author had a good set of plot ideas. I liked the trouble his interracial marriage caused when the couple met his parents and I liked the parts set in Italy; the author’s knowledge of the country made them believable. The author puts his poetic ability to good use and there are lots of examples of this in the descriptive sections.
I would have liked to see the main plotline further developed; everything felt rushed with little time spent making it plausible. It left me unconvinced that a multinational company would throw their money and support behind an inexperienced graduate with zero negotiating skills. I also yearned for more time spent developing both the main characters and the important minor ones; this would have given me a reason to be interested in their plight. We still know very little about Femi and Jessica by the end of the book.
Minor niggles came in the form of unnecessary dialogue tags and the odd instance of head-hopping which could easily be sorted with another draft or a better edit. Overall a good story concept, a little under-developed for a novel length, and with room to make the characters really jump off the page, perhaps by use of the poetic beauty elsewhere in the book.
Within a week of graduation, Femi has two top job offers. One is disguised as a research chemist for VenChemical, but Femi soon discovers they really want to make use of his Nigerian background. He is sent to bribe a top minister about a new oil partnership deal.
I think the author had a good set of plot ideas. I liked the trouble his interracial marriage caused when the couple met his parents and I liked the parts set in Italy; the author’s knowledge of the country made them believable. The author puts his poetic ability to good use and there are lots of examples of this in the descriptive sections.
I would have liked to see the main plotline further developed; everything felt rushed with little time spent making it plausible. It left me unconvinced that a multinational company would throw their money and support behind an inexperienced graduate with zero negotiating skills. I also yearned for more time spent developing both the main characters and the important minor ones; this would have given me a reason to be interested in their plight. We still know very little about Femi and Jessica by the end of the book.
Minor niggles came in the form of unnecessary dialogue tags and the odd instance of head-hopping which could easily be sorted with another draft or a better edit. Overall a good story concept, a little under-developed for a novel length, and with room to make the characters really jump off the page, perhaps by use of the poetic beauty elsewhere in the book.
August 22, 2017
A Novelist with the Heart of a Poet
“Black Gold” by Augustine Sam is quite interesting – a morality tale highlighting the contrast between two idealistic college graduates and the morally bankrupt CEO of a multinational corporation. Femi, a Nigerian native, and Jessica, a white woman from the USA, fall in love while studying in Venice and marry as soon as they earn their respective first class degrees in chemistry and economics. Femi is pursuing two job opportunities related to a major oil project in Nigeria, which brings him into the sphere of Mario Casagrande, CEO of VenChemical. Unfortunately, the unsavory job the CEO has in mind for Femi threatens to ruin his marriage, unless the couple can find a way out. The eventual resolution is clever, although the book comes to a screeching halt that was somewhat unsatisfying.
As I was reading, it seemed obvious to me that the writer has the heart of a poet. (My suspicion was confirmed when I learned that Sam had published several volumes of poetry before starting to write novels.) The language is flowery and evocative. Every scene, every setting, every action, every emotion, is described in luxurious detail, with perhaps more similes than I’ve ever encountered in a single novel. In fact, for me there was too little actual substance in the book to support the use of so many words. While I enjoyed the book and quickly read it from start to finish, I found the language off-putting. There were also a noticeable number of typos. For me, these writing issues detracted from my enjoyment of what could easily have been a better book.
My rating is 3 stars.
“Black Gold” by Augustine Sam is quite interesting – a morality tale highlighting the contrast between two idealistic college graduates and the morally bankrupt CEO of a multinational corporation. Femi, a Nigerian native, and Jessica, a white woman from the USA, fall in love while studying in Venice and marry as soon as they earn their respective first class degrees in chemistry and economics. Femi is pursuing two job opportunities related to a major oil project in Nigeria, which brings him into the sphere of Mario Casagrande, CEO of VenChemical. Unfortunately, the unsavory job the CEO has in mind for Femi threatens to ruin his marriage, unless the couple can find a way out. The eventual resolution is clever, although the book comes to a screeching halt that was somewhat unsatisfying.
As I was reading, it seemed obvious to me that the writer has the heart of a poet. (My suspicion was confirmed when I learned that Sam had published several volumes of poetry before starting to write novels.) The language is flowery and evocative. Every scene, every setting, every action, every emotion, is described in luxurious detail, with perhaps more similes than I’ve ever encountered in a single novel. In fact, for me there was too little actual substance in the book to support the use of so many words. While I enjoyed the book and quickly read it from start to finish, I found the language off-putting. There were also a noticeable number of typos. For me, these writing issues detracted from my enjoyment of what could easily have been a better book.
My rating is 3 stars.
December 29, 2017
A young couple, newly married and equally newly graduated from an Italian university are on honeymoon when the husband is summoned to New York where the CEO of a chemical company assigns to him the task of bribing a Nigerian government minister.
By the time I was a quarter of the way into this book I was wondering if it was (a) a young writer's first attempt or (b) a spoof, a parody of an overwrought romantic thriller. By the time I'd read half I had to satisfy my curiosity and looked up the author's details and some other reviews. It turns out that Augustine Sam is a successful journalist who has written at least two previous novels. Perhaps it was time to reassess my opinion.
With the book finished, and the plot fully developed, I can see that there is a lot going for it. The plot still suffers from being under developed and largely implausible. This is a shame because the two themes of Western values versus traditional African culture, on the one hand, and political and corporate corruption surrounding the Nigerian oil and chemical industries on the other, deserve attention and have the potential to provide the background to a great political thriller in the style of Wilbur Smith or John Grisham.
Unfortunately Sam's prose is not suited to such a treatment. Instead we have a slushy romance with too many eye movements, lip pursings and face softenings; far too much contradictory introspection and far too little plot. At least, that is, until the final third when things do start to move faster, but it is all resolved in an all too predictable anti-climax. I am afraid this is not one I can easily recommend.
By the time I was a quarter of the way into this book I was wondering if it was (a) a young writer's first attempt or (b) a spoof, a parody of an overwrought romantic thriller. By the time I'd read half I had to satisfy my curiosity and looked up the author's details and some other reviews. It turns out that Augustine Sam is a successful journalist who has written at least two previous novels. Perhaps it was time to reassess my opinion.
With the book finished, and the plot fully developed, I can see that there is a lot going for it. The plot still suffers from being under developed and largely implausible. This is a shame because the two themes of Western values versus traditional African culture, on the one hand, and political and corporate corruption surrounding the Nigerian oil and chemical industries on the other, deserve attention and have the potential to provide the background to a great political thriller in the style of Wilbur Smith or John Grisham.
Unfortunately Sam's prose is not suited to such a treatment. Instead we have a slushy romance with too many eye movements, lip pursings and face softenings; far too much contradictory introspection and far too little plot. At least, that is, until the final third when things do start to move faster, but it is all resolved in an all too predictable anti-climax. I am afraid this is not one I can easily recommend.
August 21, 2017
This is a book with an interesting premise, a young couple, fresh out of college who marry the day they graduate then starts to face the real pressure- figuring out where they go in life. With new job prospects, their future seems bright but Femi and Jessica find themselves in the middle of a scheme to use Femi to manipulate business deals because of his African heritage. The story is unique, no doubt about it but I am disengaged from the main characters. They have little to no influence it seems throughout the book. It's a little confusing keeping up with all their travels in such rapid successions. I'd have loved more to see an intensity in the emotions both Femi and Jessica go through. Their love for each other should be portrayed more intensely so the arguments they have which seems more like squabbles and childish pats even though sometimes what they argue about is serious. Readers will learn much about the places these two visit as the writer is very detailed. You will also be able to almost live the experience and imagine the places because of this.
June 12, 2018
The book opens with Femi and Jessica, a newly married couple honeymooning in Monaco. Both of them have just graduated from university—and have yet to land their first jobs. But a couple of offers are on the table, and they decide to travel to NY to explore one of them. It lands them in a whirlwind of rich corporations and multinational oil deals. Everything looks great on the surface, but they soon find out the deals come with strings attached.
Add in Femi’s family who are aghast at his marriage, since it upset their plans for an arranged union with a long-time family friend—and the couple hardly know where to turn.
The book is fast-paced, flitting around the globe in rapid succession—Monte Carlo, Venice, New York, Nigeria, Milan. I would’ve liked to see more in the way of stakes—the couple never got in enough danger to make me truly worried for them. Still, the setting and characters are enough for an enjoyable read.
Add in Femi’s family who are aghast at his marriage, since it upset their plans for an arranged union with a long-time family friend—and the couple hardly know where to turn.
The book is fast-paced, flitting around the globe in rapid succession—Monte Carlo, Venice, New York, Nigeria, Milan. I would’ve liked to see more in the way of stakes—the couple never got in enough danger to make me truly worried for them. Still, the setting and characters are enough for an enjoyable read.
May 25, 2017
Black Gold by Augustine Sam is an interesting story. It's a romance but there is more to the story than that. I enjoyed Femi and Jessica's characters. I especially enjoyed the fact that Femi didn't let his family change his love for his wife. The two of them together was great. There were secrets within the pages and there are people working against them. Can the two of them overcome the odds? Or will things cascade out of their control? Will they end up paying the ultimate price? Or will they be able to navigate everything that comes at them? I think others would enjoy reading Black Gold and would recommend to those who enjoy this genre.
February 9, 2018
This was a bit of a tough read for me. I loved the idea of a fledgling couple trying to find their place in the world. With the corruption and politics pulling them apart, I expected a bit more on their personal stories, but the story seemed to focus largely on the dilemma of which of the lesser evils should they go with. I felt that their relationship was glossed over and not very emotional, and I hoped for more. I felt that this was more of a fiction story with only a touch of romance.
I received a copy of this story through Candid Book Reviews, and this is my unsolicited review.
I received a copy of this story through Candid Book Reviews, and this is my unsolicited review.
August 12, 2017
I was completely sucked into this book! I realize how difficult it is to write a story that makes sense and this book was one of them. I really appreciated the writing. When I sat to read the book, I was completely sucked into the book. The story and the characters were believable and I could feel their emotions as I was reading the novel. Life throws you curveballs and this book completely threw it at the couple. I'll definitely be reading more from the author.
May 18, 2017
I liked the book though at times I felt a little disconnected from the characters. It would seem to slow then pick up again. Worth a read if you can stick through the slow pace though. For me it centred more around the actual places it was describing than the actual characters and storyline. I really enjoyed reading it nonetheless.
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