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Dirty Little Secrets
A young, hip, sexy novel that takes readers behind the velvet rope of the glamorous and shady entertainment industry
Nothing prepares Tyler Blake for the fast-paced living of New York City. A small-town girl from Georgia, she quickly gets caught up in the glamorous entertainment industry. While pursuing her dream of becoming an actress, Tyler continually gets sidetracked by men who promise to help her and finds herself going from one dysfunctional relationship to another. Just when Tyler finally believes she has found her ideal man, in hip-hop producer Brian McCall, everything begins to go horribly wrong. Trapped in a nightmarish relationship, Tyler is determined not to go down without a fight.
"Passion, deception, heartbreak, love and a delicious read...what more do you need!" -- B. Lawson Thornton, Essence bestselling author of Misery Loves Company
Nothing prepares Tyler Blake for the fast-paced living of New York City. A small-town girl from Georgia, she quickly gets caught up in the glamorous entertainment industry. While pursuing her dream of becoming an actress, Tyler continually gets sidetracked by men who promise to help her and finds herself going from one dysfunctional relationship to another. Just when Tyler finally believes she has found her ideal man, in hip-hop producer Brian McCall, everything begins to go horribly wrong. Trapped in a nightmarish relationship, Tyler is determined not to go down without a fight.
"Passion, deception, heartbreak, love and a delicious read...what more do you need!" -- B. Lawson Thornton, Essence bestselling author of Misery Loves Company
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 8, 2022
This book was dragging in my opinion unfortunately this book was about a woman that went from one bad relationship to another. The relationship were very abusive which I am completely against. In a nutshell she internalized that this is love due to her childhood. If there is a part two to this book I would be hesitant on reading it.
November 24, 2018
**Review of the audiobook**
STORY
This is the story of a female named Tyler. Her story starts at age 6 when the black cloud that’s seem to constantly cover her first appears. Tyler experiences or witnesses psychotic obsession, suicide, rape, LOTS of domestic violence, attempted molestation, botched abortion, backstabbing friends, hip-hop stars, famous basketball players and on and on (our female main character goes through about a dozen different men, each one a bigger jerk than the one before him). I kept waiting for something exciting or unusual to happen yet Tyler just kept dating jerks, repeatedly suffering from the consequences. There was unfortunately no point. I will definitely not be reading more from this series.
PERFORMANCE
I listened to the audiobook narrated by iiKane.
Most of the time I was wowed by her amazing performance. She is a fantastic actress and alters her voice to differentiate between characters. However, there were occasions where she would read non-dialogue portions in a slow, stilted manner. Fortunately, these instances were not often and did not negatively impact from how much I enjoyed this audiobook.
STORY
This is the story of a female named Tyler. Her story starts at age 6 when the black cloud that’s seem to constantly cover her first appears. Tyler experiences or witnesses psychotic obsession, suicide, rape, LOTS of domestic violence, attempted molestation, botched abortion, backstabbing friends, hip-hop stars, famous basketball players and on and on (our female main character goes through about a dozen different men, each one a bigger jerk than the one before him). I kept waiting for something exciting or unusual to happen yet Tyler just kept dating jerks, repeatedly suffering from the consequences. There was unfortunately no point. I will definitely not be reading more from this series.
PERFORMANCE
I listened to the audiobook narrated by iiKane.
Most of the time I was wowed by her amazing performance. She is a fantastic actress and alters her voice to differentiate between characters. However, there were occasions where she would read non-dialogue portions in a slow, stilted manner. Fortunately, these instances were not often and did not negatively impact from how much I enjoyed this audiobook.
January 28, 2012
This the first book in the series and it follows Tyler Blake's life from young childhood to young adult. Tyler is trying to find her nitch. She knows she wants to be a star, but is not sure how to do it. She attempts to be a rapper, but she knows this is not for her.
Tyler is a beautiful girl but she is suffering from low self image. She experiences a lot abusive relationships in her search for purpose. We are introduced to T-Roc and Ian for the first time and there is no question that he is trouble with a capital T.
Tyler thinks she has found the man for her with Brian, but once again she discovers he is just like the rest. She ends up having a baby by Brian and during a no hold barred custody battle we see Tyler grow up.
She decides to go to acting class so that she can pursue her dream. She is quickly discover by William Donovan(director/actor) and soon she is on her way to Hollywood to be a star.
Maria (Tyler's mother) is a real piece of work and her stepbrother Evan is one perverted devil. All in all I enjoyed this book and was to anxious to read the other ones that I order them, while I was still reading this. I really like this beginning story.
Tyler is a beautiful girl but she is suffering from low self image. She experiences a lot abusive relationships in her search for purpose. We are introduced to T-Roc and Ian for the first time and there is no question that he is trouble with a capital T.
Tyler thinks she has found the man for her with Brian, but once again she discovers he is just like the rest. She ends up having a baby by Brian and during a no hold barred custody battle we see Tyler grow up.
She decides to go to acting class so that she can pursue her dream. She is quickly discover by William Donovan(director/actor) and soon she is on her way to Hollywood to be a star.
Maria (Tyler's mother) is a real piece of work and her stepbrother Evan is one perverted devil. All in all I enjoyed this book and was to anxious to read the other ones that I order them, while I was still reading this. I really like this beginning story.
August 31, 2024
I found this book, because my book club saw the 2nd book in the series and began it. So, I stopped book 2 and went back to listen to this one.
Had I listened to his one first, I can honestly say I would not have listened to book 2. This was an extremely slow, non-eventful, non-romantic, and not an engaging listen. The main character was not likeable or one that you could feel sorry for in any way. The pace was extremely slow and the main character's haughty,self-entitled yet naive portrayal did this book no favors. All men are portrayed as control freaks. The one man who could give the main character what she claimed to want was tossed aside. The main character did not hold any accountability for her part in the way she was treated as a teen or adult. I did not enjoy the sophomoric writing or the story as it was written. This was a disappointing listen.
Had I listened to his one first, I can honestly say I would not have listened to book 2. This was an extremely slow, non-eventful, non-romantic, and not an engaging listen. The main character was not likeable or one that you could feel sorry for in any way. The pace was extremely slow and the main character's haughty,self-entitled yet naive portrayal did this book no favors. All men are portrayed as control freaks. The one man who could give the main character what she claimed to want was tossed aside. The main character did not hold any accountability for her part in the way she was treated as a teen or adult. I did not enjoy the sophomoric writing or the story as it was written. This was a disappointing listen.
October 14, 2010
"Dirty Little Secrets" by Joy "Deja" King was a page-turner...I couldn't wait to read about what was going to happen next. Another thing I liked about this novel was that it dealt with an issue that, unfortunately, a lot of young women are dealing with these days. They're always trying to find a "daddy" figure because they didn't really have a one as they were growing.
As a result, they find themselves, more often than not, in situations that they don't want to be in, and that are even harder to get out of. And, what's worse is that it's always a pattern. Even when they get out of it, they get back into the same cycle because that's all they know.
I gave this book 4 stars.
As a result, they find themselves, more often than not, in situations that they don't want to be in, and that are even harder to get out of. And, what's worse is that it's always a pattern. Even when they get out of it, they get back into the same cycle because that's all they know.
I gave this book 4 stars.
September 19, 2022
What absolute drivel. Toward the end of this smut filled trash fest there was a court case that Tyler won and a speech about women, feminism and power. Made me laugh out loud because of course she was fighting for support from a man. This woman was truly a vile character. Never worked a day on her life yet was always poor me!! While she was "making her own way" she was living off the jewels and gifts of her exxxs. Terrible read.
July 19, 2018
Eye-opening....
It was interesting reading a book from over 10 years ago and seeing how far and how the style of the genre has come! I loved the story line and the continuous action, reading a story told from a first person POV was tiring after while, never really got into the other characters, because they had no voice in the story. The Genre has come a long way Baby!!
It was interesting reading a book from over 10 years ago and seeing how far and how the style of the genre has come! I loved the story line and the continuous action, reading a story told from a first person POV was tiring after while, never really got into the other characters, because they had no voice in the story. The Genre has come a long way Baby!!
August 13, 2012
Did not really enjoy this book as much as the others. Tyler Blake's story is a bit redundant. She knows better but continues to make the same relationship mistakes over and over again. I found her story boring. It was not a page turner like the others.
September 13, 2019
Dirty Little Secrets by Joy King was a good read. Tyler starts off in high school where she is in the perfect high school relationship. A relationship that her parents approved of with a Ivy league type of preppy dude. Those be the ones....lol.
Growing up she had other relationships too. This book makes me think of when they say you attract a certain type of guy. All her guys seem perfect until....
This book got me scared to let my daughters date. I just say this. I hope they don't have any dirty little secrets like Tyler keeps in this book. I would be livid. Anyway this i s a great read. Once you finish Dirty Little Secrets you'll be ready to read Hooker to Housewife which is Book 2.
Growing up she had other relationships too. This book makes me think of when they say you attract a certain type of guy. All her guys seem perfect until....
This book got me scared to let my daughters date. I just say this. I hope they don't have any dirty little secrets like Tyler keeps in this book. I would be livid. Anyway this i s a great read. Once you finish Dirty Little Secrets you'll be ready to read Hooker to Housewife which is Book 2.
January 8, 2018
Amazing roller coaster of secrets. Poor Tyler's outlook on life and men are shaped from the time she was just a little girl. She was so young to have gone through so much. Her nighmarish relationships had me wondering how much worse things could get for her. Every time it seemed that she was turning things around, she would end up in another dead end situation. I was happy to see that there are two more books in this series. I look forward to more tales from Tyler Blake!
May 16, 2024
Rarely do I write a review but here I am. I started listening via audiobook. When the character at 6 years of age stated that she had a Vanity poster in her room, her favorite singer, I was turned off. At 6, what does she know about Vanity 6? At 6 how do you even know what the male anatomy is in depth. Unrealistic so I turned it back in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2021
I really liked this book! I couldn’t stop reading it because of the main character. All of the mistakes and things she went through, it was so addicting. If you like drama stories you would like this.
July 2, 2021
Tyler is the worst main character in a book I have ever read. She was one street corner away from being a professional. She had no substance at all and her family was a just as bad. She constantly kept doing the same thing in every relationship and expected different results.
January 18, 2024
Just ok. This girl just couldn't buy sense. Her taste in men were awful. Rape, abuse, death, abortion, miscarriages....she went through it. The book ended with no resolution. Next up Hooker to Housewife. The story continues for Tyler.
June 28, 2020
Oh man, this book was everything!!! Tyler Blake was something else and she needs some major therapy. Highly suggested...on to the next “Hooker to Housewife”.
April 2, 2021
I read this out of sequence, but it was still a good book. I was getting drained from all of the terrible abusive choices Tyler kept making however. She needed real therapy.
December 10, 2021
I made it through. That’s all I really have to say.
I haven’t changed my rating criteria, but even the worst book ends up with a 3 if I finished it.
I haven’t changed my rating criteria, but even the worst book ends up with a 3 if I finished it.
December 26, 2024
loved it.
November 20, 2020
Nothing that I read within this book haven’t already been revealed through someone else’s life.
January 2, 2009
The quintessential one
Ladies we're all guilty of searching for `LOVE.' You know the old wives' tale says that all of us will meet that one guy who'll love you, respect you and whisk all of your troubles away. To him you're more than a girl he's seeing or plotting to sleep with, you're extraordinary! Willingly he risks life and limbs to be apart of YOUR world. Baby girl when he comes along life for you will fall into sync and there will be no more lonely days, no more crying yourself to sleep and no matter how bad you were treated in the past, you'll be loved beyond your wildest imagination. You know it's so, because Mother told us so...
This would be an idyllic life for every woman if the conception was that in order to receive someone else's love, first you must have a foundation of what love truly is. One must first love them self and never voluntarily give up that love. Not even for money, fame, or fortune. Sex is just that sex and if there is violence believe that it only gets worse.
DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS specifies Tyler Blake's unfortunate journey as she is caught up in the rapture time and time again. One can't help pitying her failed attempts at love and bouts of depression. It's a different chapter, same leading lady with different and sometimes reappearing leading men with the same purpose, passion, deception, heartbreak and delusions. How much more is left for Tyler to invest before the walls cave in?
I swear I was headed to the airport to knock some sense into Tyler on several occasions. Joy King has crafted a novel that will cause you to feel every single emotion, regardless how foolish. I couldn't resist the urge to yell out to her to stop, think and wait before leaping back into danger. I desperately wanted to call the people and have her committed. I guess this means that I was pulled in too deep. I pray that women utilize DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS as a guide of what is not acceptable behavior in relation to dating.
Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all!
Reviewed by: Crystal
Ladies we're all guilty of searching for `LOVE.' You know the old wives' tale says that all of us will meet that one guy who'll love you, respect you and whisk all of your troubles away. To him you're more than a girl he's seeing or plotting to sleep with, you're extraordinary! Willingly he risks life and limbs to be apart of YOUR world. Baby girl when he comes along life for you will fall into sync and there will be no more lonely days, no more crying yourself to sleep and no matter how bad you were treated in the past, you'll be loved beyond your wildest imagination. You know it's so, because Mother told us so...
This would be an idyllic life for every woman if the conception was that in order to receive someone else's love, first you must have a foundation of what love truly is. One must first love them self and never voluntarily give up that love. Not even for money, fame, or fortune. Sex is just that sex and if there is violence believe that it only gets worse.
DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS specifies Tyler Blake's unfortunate journey as she is caught up in the rapture time and time again. One can't help pitying her failed attempts at love and bouts of depression. It's a different chapter, same leading lady with different and sometimes reappearing leading men with the same purpose, passion, deception, heartbreak and delusions. How much more is left for Tyler to invest before the walls cave in?
I swear I was headed to the airport to knock some sense into Tyler on several occasions. Joy King has crafted a novel that will cause you to feel every single emotion, regardless how foolish. I couldn't resist the urge to yell out to her to stop, think and wait before leaping back into danger. I desperately wanted to call the people and have her committed. I guess this means that I was pulled in too deep. I pray that women utilize DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS as a guide of what is not acceptable behavior in relation to dating.
Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all!
Reviewed by: Crystal
March 24, 2015
This Can't Be Life (2.5 stars)
*SPOILER ALERT*
I'm highly disappointed in Joy Deja King for writing this...book. I would give her the benefit of the doubt because it's her first novel and I know she has gotten MUCH better, but some things can't be overlooked. What pisses me off the most is how dumb, contradicting, indecisive, stupid, insecure, and just plain dumb the main character, Tyler, is. Not to mention, everything was happening too fast without reason. (This is where the spoiler alert comes into play.) Within 120 something pages, this chick:
Almost gets raped at the age of 6 or 7 by her mother's man's son.
Gets raped at the age of 16 by her ex-boyfriend.
Next boyfriend beats the hell out of her and rapes her while making her watch a porn he made with two women a month before (he cheated on her). He kills himself after he finds out she left him for his best friend.
Has it good with the best friend, but...I don't even wanna talk about that because it upsets me.
Almost gets abused by her music boss.
Gets with a basketball player who beats her ass and she's still with his ass.
Becomes manipulated/blackmailed by the basketball player's cousin whom she had sex with prior meeting him.
For an avid reader that loves fast-paced novels, that is entirely too much and doesn't make a bit of sense. Instead of feeling sorry for Tyler, I became disgusted with her with each page. The more I read about her, the more quickly I read the book to put an end to both of our misery. I love Joy Deja King. Her "B!TCH" series is one of my faves, but this I couldn't rock with. Plus, there was a bunch of telling instead of showing. Thankfully, Joy Deja King gets better with that.
There's more that I can complain about with the character of Tyler, but I feel as though I've said enough. I would say nice ending, but the fact that she thinks she's going to have a great life with a married man is just redundant and...anyways. I'm contemplating reading the second book to this series because I hear it's much better, but we'll see how that goes.
*SPOILER ALERT*
I'm highly disappointed in Joy Deja King for writing this...book. I would give her the benefit of the doubt because it's her first novel and I know she has gotten MUCH better, but some things can't be overlooked. What pisses me off the most is how dumb, contradicting, indecisive, stupid, insecure, and just plain dumb the main character, Tyler, is. Not to mention, everything was happening too fast without reason. (This is where the spoiler alert comes into play.) Within 120 something pages, this chick:
Almost gets raped at the age of 6 or 7 by her mother's man's son.
Gets raped at the age of 16 by her ex-boyfriend.
Next boyfriend beats the hell out of her and rapes her while making her watch a porn he made with two women a month before (he cheated on her). He kills himself after he finds out she left him for his best friend.
Has it good with the best friend, but...I don't even wanna talk about that because it upsets me.
Almost gets abused by her music boss.
Gets with a basketball player who beats her ass and she's still with his ass.
Becomes manipulated/blackmailed by the basketball player's cousin whom she had sex with prior meeting him.
For an avid reader that loves fast-paced novels, that is entirely too much and doesn't make a bit of sense. Instead of feeling sorry for Tyler, I became disgusted with her with each page. The more I read about her, the more quickly I read the book to put an end to both of our misery. I love Joy Deja King. Her "B!TCH" series is one of my faves, but this I couldn't rock with. Plus, there was a bunch of telling instead of showing. Thankfully, Joy Deja King gets better with that.
There's more that I can complain about with the character of Tyler, but I feel as though I've said enough. I would say nice ending, but the fact that she thinks she's going to have a great life with a married man is just redundant and...anyways. I'm contemplating reading the second book to this series because I hear it's much better, but we'll see how that goes.
February 3, 2017
I really hate reading stories about women being so stupid over men, that they sacrifice all of their self worth to maintain a toxic relationship. In the beginning of the book I thought she was semi smart, however once she moved to New York became clear to me she should apply to receive a monthly check. She did do one thing that redeemed her a little bit towards the end of the book but the new relationship she now wants has put her back on stupid. I'm conflicted about reading the second installment because I'm really tired of screaming you are so f'in stupid.
May 30, 2013
Quick read about secrets of a young lady named Tyler Blake. She kept having people and situations take advantage of her - her father, mother, stepdad, step-brother and numerous men. Then one day she woke up and found her inner strength. Tyler just may become a star.
King wrote many scenes of disturbing abuse and unrealistic emotions. However, it's like looking into the mind of a sexual/domestic abuse survivor. I kept yelling at Tyler wanting her to make better decisions. The line - "When a man is sleeping, a woman is thinking" - is what changed the course of this book. Good job!
King wrote many scenes of disturbing abuse and unrealistic emotions. However, it's like looking into the mind of a sexual/domestic abuse survivor. I kept yelling at Tyler wanting her to make better decisions. The line - "When a man is sleeping, a woman is thinking" - is what changed the course of this book. Good job!
October 16, 2013
Tyler sure did go through a lot. Most of what was learned from her mother she endured just to have a certain life that she was accustomed to. Searching and staying in relationships for all the wrong reasons, Tyler went through what many women do just to survive or make it big... whatever it takes. Although her decisions were poor when it came to love and abusive relationships, she learned from them and came out on top even when she was brought down to her lowest. Great read!
May 22, 2015
Love this story, it was embedded in Tyler as a child that she was beautiful and only deserved the finer things in life so she took that and ran with it all her life,she encountered a few obstacles on her journey but in her mind it was nothing she couldn't handle, Lisa her so called best friend pissed me off with her back stabbing self, Tyler had her ups n downs with the lifestyle she lived but in the end she came out on top
April 4, 2013
The character in this book got on my nerves. The storyline was different, I feel like she (the writer) was trying to make a point by us going through each relationship with her, but it still seemed a little empty like something was missing. Not drama but more guidance or wisdom. I guess we were supposed to be living vicariously through her. It jus didn't click for me.
April 18, 2016
This is my first book by this author. Is a story about a young girl name Tyler and how her mother's abusive relationships affects Tyler as an young adult. In this story you will have drama and romance. One thing I didn't really enjoy about the character Tyler was how she made the wrong choices in her life over and over again. This book is a quick read, very good for a summer read!!!
April 27, 2022
I reread this (without remembering ANY of it) and need to change my original rating. Tyler has a lot of unresolved trauma and gets in relationships with one abusive guy after another until she chooses herself at the very end. Tyler isn't very fleshed out and there's a lot to unpack. But, yeah.
November 14, 2008
I love this book so much
August 4, 2011
loved it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews