Mama's Lies-Daddy's Pain

by Brian W. Smith

Jamal Simms is the loving father of Jada Simms. He struggles to raise Jada with her mother (Tracy) whom he can't seem to get along with. Shortly before Jada's 18th birthday, a DNA test reveals that Jamal isn't Jada's biological father. Feelings are hurt, lies are told, loyalties are tested, and lives are forever changed.

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2006

Reviews

[Michelle Chavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SSSOOO Good! I have been sitting in the same spot since 5pm. I couldn't put it down until I finished. It had some twist that I wasn't expecting. Loved it!!! I actually feel a little sad that it's over.....

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian W. Smith begins this book with a chapter called: The Characters. I loved that I got to find out who the characters are and how they relate to each other before diving right into the story and trying to figure everything out.


Even though he talks about tough issues, Brian never fails to bring humor into his stories. You can see that in the following quotes:


Lead us not into temptation, but forgive us our trespassers as we forgive those who mess over us and be trippin'. Lord I don't care what you do to me just please don't let this girl be pregnant. In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit...Lord pleeeeease don't let this girl be pregnant. p27

"why you wanna join the Marines? Who you think you are - Rambo? They gonna call your black ass RAMBRO!" p 41

Okay, so Tracy was pregnant, and Jamal was the father--so he was told. He wasn't sure, but he didn't question anything. He treated Jada like his flesh and blood. He paid child support to Tracy so that Jada could have what she needed. What a surprise when he found out her teeth weren't being taken care of and she had to have all kinds of dental work done. Tracy just seemed to keep wanting more money all the time, but where was it going?


This kind of goes off the subject, but the story takes place in New Orleans. On page 89 Jamal and his mom were eating breakfast at a New Orleans bistro. Jamal states how he hates beignets because of the powdered sugar--he gets more of it on his face than in his mouth. I had to look these up and see what they look like. Here they are (and I see why he would avoid these like the plague!) (I changed my Facebook profile picture to this picture just to see if anyone wonders why!):


(you will have to read my full review at http://www.blackdiamondsbookreviews.c... to see the picture!)
(photo from tripadvisor.com)


Anyway, Jamal questioned his friendship with Greg. Greg just wanted to be with all these women and not take care of his own child. Jamal was trying to be the best father he could and just didn't feel right having a friend like this.


If you want to read an excellent book with real life issues and characters, I highly recommend this book! Watch out for Tracy though! I did not like her at all. She turned things around to make it look like Jamal is the bad guy. He was such a good father to Jada. The nerve of her to say that Jamal dropped the bomb and really hurt Jada...are you kidding me?


Wow, and I can't even believe who the father was. It was totally unexpected--and the letter and the event that happened at the end--well actually both of them--I really almost cried. I had tears in my eyes. Just thinking that this book was based on real events is even more heartbreaking.


Brian W. Smith never fails to deliver an awesome book with issues and characters that are real. This was a book that made me laugh, made me mad (at Tracy! Ugh!), and brought tears to my eyes. I highly recommend this book!

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Mama's Lies - Daddy's Pain
Author: Brian W. Smith
Publisher: Hollygrove Publishing
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Mama's Lies - Daddy's Pain" by Brian W. Smith

My Thoughts....

Oh, my goodness..so this is how a lie can start during one's teenage years and continue all the way
to adulthood. But what will happen when the lie is finally found out? Well, this is what happened to Jamal and Tracey during their teenage years. Now, only if Jamal had listened to his best friend Greg...oh well there are so many parts of this story that you will just have to pick this one up and see for yourself how well this author brings it all out so well to the readers. I was left feeling very sad with its ending but so many times in life we are not given that HEA in situations like this. That was one ending I wasn't looking for but what will be will be. Was there a lesson learned from the read YES! And with saying that I will only say that this read was one excellent read dealing with emotional life issues that do happen due to 'deceit.'

Thank you to the author for a good read. I this one for my prime read for July, 2016.

[Yolanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am still tripping literally off of the way the book ended. I swear I am going to have to send Mr. Smith a bill for high blood pressure medicine. An amazingly emotional story about paternity from a man' s side. I actually recommend this book for teenagers. It does have sex scenes and profanity. But let's face it your teenage has heard all of this before in rap music. I recommend you read it first and decide if your teenager is able to handle it. It makes for a great discussion and has several different lessons surrounding unprotected sex, promiscuity, HIV, and deceit. Great story!

[Dee Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit I enjoy reading books written by this author. Realistic situations & characters make me feel as if I am present in the story while reading. I had so much respect for Jamal throughout. Storyline held my attention as I couldn't put this book down until the end. Very good read!

[Dynah Zale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jamal was a straight punk and less of a man.

I’ve seen this scenario played out several times in the African American community and I disagree with Jamal’s actions. However, I’m sure my brother would disagree with me.

I hated the way Jamal acted towards his daughter once the paternity results were obtained. He was mad because she wasn’t mad at the mother but why should jada have cared who her real father was because she had a dad. He was the only father she had ever known and he threw her out like the trash.

[Pat Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening

This book was heavy, dealing with so many ever relevant issues - teenage pregnancy, child support, coparenting and more. While the father appeared to mature into his role, the mother was manipulative, negligent, non-nurturing and superficial. In the end, I think they both failed their daughter though. I loved how this was written and the issues that were presented solidified the fact that there are no easy answers. Very compelling read that made me see some things differently.

[ToniReads_1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mama's Lies Daddy's Pain

Wow is all I can say. As one of my favorite authors Brian has done it again. I had to push up my chin just to close my mouth. This is some real life ish right here. I won't give any spoilers this is one you will have to read for yourself. Absolutely worth 5 stars. The title only touches the tip of the iceberg

[Alfreda Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing!! Brian Smith u did an awesome job on this book. With the twist and turn and surprises in this book, I couldn’t put it down!! I hope it’s a part two in the making, I want to see how life is with Jada and Tracy! Jamal was a standup guy! With all the stress he dealt with God still blessed him in the end!!

[reneeNaDaCherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good. The young characters in this story struggled with infidelity. The aches and pains of young love. Some matured, like Jamal.. Some became successful while others, like Greg and Tracy, used and abused their relationships. And it all started in the parish of New Orleans, LA.

6/23/2021

[Jackie Mays · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its good to see the other side of the coin from the male point of view.

This is a subject that needs a brighter light shined upon it. Fathers that do well and love hard and get hurt happens more times than we discuss.

[🌻Gracefully Whole🌻 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad but true

This story happens everyday. It was a good read. Only complaint is it dragged in certain parts. I found myself skipping parts. I would have also liked to hear Jada side after it was all revealed.

[Misty’s Reading Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pool of lies and deception always leads to destruction. Conniving to the bitter end. It will leave you wondering if your best friend and baby’s momma really has your best interests at heart or just your wallet

[Janet W. Bacon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very real read...teenage promiscuity; child support/parental fraud; HIV...all tackled beautifully! Recommend for ‘mature’ teenagers tho the language is nothing new to most. Ended too abruptly 😢

[V Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew it, I knew it! Jada was Greg’s child! I just hate that Jamal was a great guy and got treated like a money bag by Tracy!

[Deidre · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a good read

[LaVida Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This book touched on a lot of issues that are faced in the African American communities. I suggest everyone to read this one.

[Eartha Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRIAN W. SMITH delivered!!! Mama's Lies - Daddy's Pain was plot-driven, alive, filled with rage, and real enough to have me empathizing with his protagonist, Jamal. I can not expect any man to be in this situation, experience this kind of betrayal, heal from it, and emerge with dignity without having gone through the seven stages of grief. This is his first novel, and it was written 10+ years ago. I see minor flaws. However, nothing detracts from this story! The voice was authentic. The character motivations were real. The break-neck plot was tight.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

After hearing Brian W. Smith speak about how his writing career began, and hearing of how this story was conceived, I decided to read it. I am a true and true BWS fan. I have read a lot, but not all of his books.

The storyline was very interesting. It centered around a young man, Jamal Simms, entering his senior year in high school who learns he is about to be a father, even though he had just broken things off with his girlfriend, Tracy Newhouse. The thought doesn't occur to him that he may not even be the father. Mama's Lies - Daddy's Pain chronicles the journey from becoming a proud papa to finding out that he isn't the father at all. Many twists, turns, and interesting characters introductions along the way, we get the full story of the paternity of little Jada and how one deceitful decision made by one selfish woman can affect the lives of so many people.

Interwoven is also the story of Greg Johnson, Jamal's womanizing best friend from childhood who has to face his own demons. For years, he prides himself on being the single playboy. Even though he fathers a child with one of many conquests, he is very up front with the fact that he has no plans to be tied down, to support his child, or even to be a part of said child's life. As callous and cold as this seems, Greg continues on the path of an eligible bachelor, never asking himself the question 'how long can he keep this up before his lifestyle slows him down?'.

In true BWS fashion, he introduces touchy, hot-button issues into his vivid writing style. There is always a moral element or two involved. And he always keeps his readers turning the page to see just what will happen next.

It was interesting to read this novel, the author's first, after reading several of his later works. Seeing my friend Brian's growth from then to now was interesting. I know that this book came from a personal and passionate place, and I am happy that he made his swift entrance into the literary world with it. I found that his more current books are much more concise and leave out a lot of the unnecessary details that were included in this book. Still a great read and as always, I'm looking forward to the next BWS read.

[OOSA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of Commission

Jamal Simms and Tracy Newhouse are two teenagers involved in the classic teen relationship. They spend their summers enclosed in one another's bedrooms and the kisses quickly turn into much more. Tracy tells Jamal she's pregnant, then she isn't, and well, the relationship has just run its course. Jamal has moved on and is unconcerned about the rumors flying around town about Tracy. Well, not until he's pulled into her circle.

Jada is born and Jamal and Tracy are now parents and they don't have a good relationship. They fuss and fight about money, school and how to raise Jada properly. Tracy is too busy creating mayhem to see that she's destroying her daughter's relationship with her dad. Could it simply be that Tracy is just money hungry and unconcerned about Jamal and his issues?

Greg Johnson is Jamal's best friend. A pretty boy, Greg is one of the finest men residing in New Orleans. He doesn't mince words and he let's every chick he's bedding know in advance. You'd think that once he found out he was a dad that things would change for the better. Nope, Greg, unlike his best friend, is all about himself. He's not allowing anyone to charge him with being anyone's dad and would quit his job before paying one cent to child support. If there were ever a poster child for dead beat daddies, clearly he's it.

When finally enough questions have arisen and the disrespect is too much to handle, Jamal decides that maybe some DNA will sooth his denial. Can Jamal, Tracy and Jada overcome the results?

Mama's Lies- Daddy's Pain is a VERY significant read! Unfortunately, we have shows like Maury that poke fun at people uncertain about whether or not they've created life. Brian W. Smith has taken lies, pain and drama to an all new high, exposing the cavalier diatribe of a woman who does what she can in order to get what it is she needs. Fast read that I LOVED every step of the way. Brian, keep bridging the gaps.


Reviewed by: Crystal

[Anita Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so thrilled to see an author address this subject. So many times the man's point of view is overshadowed. As an employee of the "system", I would see this same story weekly. As a female reader, I enjoy reading the written word, but I was taken aback when the book caught the eye of my husband. This book not only appeals to the female reader, it attracts the male reader as well. My husband and I both rate this book with five stars and encourage DNA tests. :-)

8-16-17

P. 201 Some people tell a lie so long that eventually they start to believe it themselves...

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story very much. Its rare that you read a story with a positive male trying to do right and the woman is shown in an ill light. The author did a good job of having me not like the mother. I know there are women out here like her and it just made it that much more sad. I really liked Jamal and rooted for him. I definitely was shocked by the outcome with Greg. Tracy just had to have some mental issues and poor Jada had her as a role model. I plan to read more by this author, this was my first but definitely not my last. Well written and drew me in emotionally.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamal and Tracey is a teenage couple enjoying their teenager years, until Tracy tells Jamal that she is pregnant. Tracey gives birth to a baby girl; Jada. Jamal decides to step up and try to be a good dad. Jamal and Tracey relationship did not last, but Jamal was determined to support his daughter. Tracey and Jamal could not agree on anything when it came to Jada. Jamal decides to do a DNA, and learns that his worse fear is true. This was an excellent book that deals with real life issues against men.

[Lashanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read. The book was great but the subject was upsetting. Tracy Newhouse and Greg Johnson were wrong in their decision. Jamal was an upstanding guy who made plenty of sacrifices. He dealt with a lot of unnecessary BS. Despite it all, he kept his cool. Tracy and Greg each have ro deal with karma.

[Kendell That'sMe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great read by Mr Smith!.
I felt sorry for Jamal at times he tried to be the best father he can be to Jada.So many men get caught up in baby mama drama and have to spend the next 18+ years suffering cause they didn't choose the mother of their child wisely.The ending of this book was a real shock,

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4

[Ellowyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

the author did an awesome job with this book. Paterenity Fraud is own the rise in th is country today. I admonish all menbif you aren't sure get tested. This book is a nuts read.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read from a males perspective.

[Myra Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Brian. Including plot twists and turns that you don't expect. Paternity fraud is so serious.

[Diane Rembert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamal had had many of ups and downs with Tracy, the mother of his daughter. Right before her eighteenth birthday, he find out that Jada is not his child.Excellent book!!!