Joyride: When Loyalty Kills

by Penny Blacwrite

At nineteen years old, Joyce Ann “Joi” Holloway was arrested for a slew of outstanding warrants she’d racked up for shoplifting, credit card scams, and fake checks. This wasn’t her first time serving time, but it was the first time she’d been arrested while pregnant. After giving birth while handcuffed to a hospital bed and raising her daughter, Nia, in a prison nursery on Rikers Island, Joi turned her life around for good.She enrolled in school, landed a decent job, and maintained an eleven-year relationship with Clyde, an older hustler who took her and Nia in. Despite the stark age difference between the two and Clyde’s usual hang ups, things were going just fine, until the night before Nia’s fifth-grade graduation.Disappointed and distraught, Joi becomes a single mom again, struggling to parent her hypersexual daughter while battling the conflicting influences from her recovering drug-addicted mother, Pam, and her ghetto fabulous sister, Gloria.With no one to rely on when tragedy after tragedy occurs, Joi is forced to put her faith and trust in her new mystery man.Many will question where Joi’s loyalty lies as she juggles her responsibilities of nurturer and protector to Nia and caretaker to Pam, all while staying out of trouble with law enforcement and still getting her selfish needs met.Readers are in for an exhilarating ride of raw emotions mixed with realistic and nostalgic flashbacks that will excite, frustrate, and jerk them to the core.

Kindle Edition

Published July 21, 2021

About the author

Penny Blacwrite burst onto the literary scene in 2021 and hasn’t looked back. With fourteen bestselling novels under her belt, she’s become a force in women’s fiction and contemporary romance. Best known for her hit series Charlie’s Angels, When a Wife’s Fed Up, and Toxic, Penny delivers gripping stories filled with jaw-dropping secrets, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and unforgettable endings. Her work boldly explores themes like age gaps, love triangles, polyamory, secret babies, steamy romance, and the complexities of modern relationships.

A proud Brooklyn native, Penny is a graduate of Howard University and a dedicated member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Deeply rooted in her Caribbean heritage—Barbadian and Jamaican—she finds joy in calypso, soca, and reggae music. When she’s not crafting her next page-turner, you’ll likely find her unwinding at the spa, soaking in a jacuzzi, or jet-setting to a Carnival celebration on a tropical island.

Reviews

[Latonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm writing this almost 3 weeks after completing this book that took me three days to complete it when I usually read a book of this size in one day. There were parts when I felt sorry for Joi, but her sister could kick rocks. Other than that, there's nothing really that stood out to me about the book or that was really memorable. This was my first time reading this author. I will continue to read her work to see her growth as a writer because she's published by one of my favorite authors.

[A One · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slow

Took took long to get to the story line. Didn't keep my attention. I was falling asleep in chapter one.

[Jemila Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great writing style and engaging story! Will definitely be looking out for more from this author

[Latoya Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers

I gave this story a three because for the life of me I couldn’t see the purpose in this story. I really felt like I was trying to get to a point of understanding but I never did. I still don’t know why Joi and Gloria had so much beef, what type of growth we were supposed to be seeing in the characters, and the actual point and purpose of the story. Someone was finally killed at the end but we didn’t get the why or how. Frankly I wouldn’t want to go through another part just for that small piece of information. This just wasn’t the read for me. The title was very misleading.

[Bookreadersclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

True to its title, this one was a complete rollercoaster ride through the lives of Joi, her daughter Nia & multiple family characters testing every possible loyalty in relations. What does loyalty mean after all?

Each character is complex & flawed. From Joi becoming a prisoner, to her jumping from one un-loyal man to another, to the close-knit relationship of mother-daughter, i.e. of Joi & her drug addict mother, the story is layered, fast paced & intriguing.

Joi juggles multiple relationships albeit poorly. Her need to be there for her daughter but failing miserably at each step & not being able to handle her hypersexuality at the young age of 12, shows the struggles of a single mother & yet the undying love for her child. She screams, throws expletives & uses force to discipline her child, not realizing its futility. She is perpetually riled up & suffering.

The hero of this story are its characters because each one plays a significant role & depicts the importance of relationships even in broken, outlawed, complex families. The reader must be ready to be non-judgmental as everyone is dealing with their own set of issues.

The plotline is very nuanced. Gave a complete glimpse of problematic African families, from theft, molestation, drugs, un-loyal men to heated sibling rivalry, this one has it all.

The narration is great but the only issue I had was with the usage of African slangs & their style of speaking which was very difficult to read. Other than that, a must read for lovers of some serious family drama.

The climax was unexpected & chilling. You realize the futility of betrayal, of hatred, of everything, boiling down to nothing. Death itself is very unforgiving. Whose death you may ask? Read this one to find out!

[Penny Blacwrite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explores many themes such as criminality, poverty, hypersexuality, mother-daughter relationships and loyalty. Please LIKE the author on her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/authorpennyb...
https://www.facebook.com/author.penny...

and her instagram is www.instagram.com/pennyblacwrites

[Racquel Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

what did dad Bobby do???

WOW, Joi went through. I think she grew in jail, especially with crazy ORa but once she was released she went right back into her toxic environment with her sister. Bobby warning about loyalty got me thinking he had something to do with the shooting Gloria, I think it was meant for Gloria and Nia got caught in the cross fire

[R Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg

I need answers, like is Bobby really behind this???
I still can’t understand why Joi could even deal with Clyde no matter how much he was there for her. Tony really surprised me. I gonna need a part 2.

[Denise Locust · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story…I just don’t know.

For one, this story dragged…it didn’t grab me at all. Glo was a foul as well as Nia. I forced myself to finished this book, it was that boring. As the same time, I’m curious about who is behind Glo and Nia demised.

[shalestina wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where’s part 2

It took me a minute to get into it but once I did I was hooked I couldn’t put it don’t down, ughh I need part 2!!!!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m pissed

I didn’t realize this wasn’t a finished book. I hate when I get to the end and it says to be continued. 😭😭😭 However this is a great story and I highly recommend it.

[Donzaleigh Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg

A cliffhanger , no, no,no no! Great read. Can’t wait to continue . Let’s go! Looking for you Joy! 👏🏽

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an engaging story from beginning to end with characters to love and characters that you love to hate. The family dynamics are intense and very realistic. I felt like I was along for the ride with Joi and thoroughly enjoyed her story. I'm still not sure how I feel about the shocking ending. I plan to read it again!