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Shades Of Jade
Terrance. Louis. Wayne. Eric. Marissa had been One of these days you're gonna mess with the wrong woman's husband. But she doesn't care. Aside from an occasional bout of guilt, she feels no shame, because after all, if their wives were doing what they were supposed to, then their husbands would not be seeking her company.
Marissa dates married men - four of them concurrently because it's easier. She gets all of the trappings of a relationship - love, wining and dining, physical pleasure - without any of the pain - cooking, laundry, and the day-to-day maintenance of a relationship.
But when it appears that one of the wives of the men she is dating is out to get her - wants her dead, in fact - Marissa begins to reexamine the choices she's made. Her selfishness gives way to vulnerability and fear, and she comes to the conclusion that she deserves a man all her own. But will she survive long enough to find Mr. Right?
Marissa dates married men - four of them concurrently because it's easier. She gets all of the trappings of a relationship - love, wining and dining, physical pleasure - without any of the pain - cooking, laundry, and the day-to-day maintenance of a relationship.
But when it appears that one of the wives of the men she is dating is out to get her - wants her dead, in fact - Marissa begins to reexamine the choices she's made. Her selfishness gives way to vulnerability and fear, and she comes to the conclusion that she deserves a man all her own. But will she survive long enough to find Mr. Right?
Unbound
First published April 1, 2000
6 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Gloria Mallette
14 books121 followers(SEE VIDEO below)
2007 was a wonderful year for me. Although I have been published by major mainstream publishers, this year I chose to return to the self-publishing arena (Living, Breathing Lies) in order to continue to write the stories I like to write. I am so appreciative of those readers who have continued to read my books despite who my publisher is. I always say, "Never let anyone tell you that you can't; show them that you can." I am about staying on the literary path I asked God to set my feet upon. I hope you, as well, are going about fulfilling your dreams and letting no one bound your mind, soul, or hands.
Also this year, my latest book, Living, Breathing Lies placed as a WINNER in the USA Book News National Best Books Award for 2007 in African American Fiction (USABookNews.com). Do I count this as a blessing? You bet I do.
Currently, I am working on my 10th title, SASSY, due out June 2008.
Please visit me on my website, and please check out my video for Living, Breathing Lies on Goodreads or Youtube.com.
2007 was a wonderful year for me. Although I have been published by major mainstream publishers, this year I chose to return to the self-publishing arena (Living, Breathing Lies) in order to continue to write the stories I like to write. I am so appreciative of those readers who have continued to read my books despite who my publisher is. I always say, "Never let anyone tell you that you can't; show them that you can." I am about staying on the literary path I asked God to set my feet upon. I hope you, as well, are going about fulfilling your dreams and letting no one bound your mind, soul, or hands.
Also this year, my latest book, Living, Breathing Lies placed as a WINNER in the USA Book News National Best Books Award for 2007 in African American Fiction (USABookNews.com). Do I count this as a blessing? You bet I do.
Currently, I am working on my 10th title, SASSY, due out June 2008.
Please visit me on my website, and please check out my video for Living, Breathing Lies on Goodreads or Youtube.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 27, 2018
The premise of the story hooked me early. I read a little every day during my lunch break. There always seemed to be just enough to keep me interested.
In many respects SOJ lived up to "exciting thriller" as quoted on the back cover. Danger lurked constantly for the protagonist. Even though her problems were her own fault, I felt for her safety.
Despite the fact that at times it reads like a romance, I understood that was required of the plot.
I liked how the story moved and I liked the interplay of the characters.
My only real disappointment came as a result of my expectations being unfulfilled with respect to the climax. There was one particular character who should have turned out to be the antagonist.
I give it 3.5 stars overall because, no matter my opinion, it works in its genre.
In many respects SOJ lived up to "exciting thriller" as quoted on the back cover. Danger lurked constantly for the protagonist. Even though her problems were her own fault, I felt for her safety.
Despite the fact that at times it reads like a romance, I understood that was required of the plot.
I liked how the story moved and I liked the interplay of the characters.
My only real disappointment came as a result of my expectations being unfulfilled with respect to the climax. There was one particular character who should have turned out to be the antagonist.
I give it 3.5 stars overall because, no matter my opinion, it works in its genre.
Read
March 18, 2011the book talks about a picky lover girl who only seeks married men. her best friend trys to help her find a man thats single
August 13, 2018
I read this book like a torpedo yet the ending was rushed and it’s the worst way you can sabotage an already just-okay book.
March 25, 2020
So, every so often I get in reading slumps when a book I anticipated was not what I wanted--and I have my husband go through my shelves and choose for me..He came up with this one and I must admit I have forgotten all about it and sheesh its like 20 years old but don’t judge LOL..This one is an adult read and focuses on Marissa Jenkins..
“If a woman has a problem with me, she had better look at her husband. I didn’t twist his arm to be with me.”.....If a man was satisfied at home, he wouldn’t be inviting me out in the first place.” (Pg. 17)
Marissa is a smart, successful, beautiful woman who despite all she has does not have a man and instead spends her time being wined, dined and in pseudo-relationships with rich, adulterous married men..
“You should listen to yourself sometimes. This guy has a Mercedes; this guy has a five-thousand rolex; this one makes one hundred and fifty thousand a year; that one has a twelve-room house. Marissa, what you fail to comprehend is that they have; their wives have. You don’t have.”
“You know something Marissa, I often wonder if you like a man for himself or for what he has to give to you.”
“That’s not for you to wonder about, is it? Besides, as I see it, there is no shame in wanting a successful man who can give me what I want. If he happens to be married, so be it.” (Pg. 16)
So Marissa lives her life her way, doing her thing until she starts receiving death threats; her car tires are slashed; her windshield is slashed and the woman finds her everywhere from at work to her friends’ house..Living in fear seems to be her only option and the book comes to a suspenseful and shocking conclusion that was surprising--Without saying too much there is a lot packed into this 245 page novel about jealousy, betrayal, friendship, adultery, classism and relationships….Hmm interesting and I will pass this one on….
“If a woman has a problem with me, she had better look at her husband. I didn’t twist his arm to be with me.”.....If a man was satisfied at home, he wouldn’t be inviting me out in the first place.” (Pg. 17)
Marissa is a smart, successful, beautiful woman who despite all she has does not have a man and instead spends her time being wined, dined and in pseudo-relationships with rich, adulterous married men..
“You should listen to yourself sometimes. This guy has a Mercedes; this guy has a five-thousand rolex; this one makes one hundred and fifty thousand a year; that one has a twelve-room house. Marissa, what you fail to comprehend is that they have; their wives have. You don’t have.”
“You know something Marissa, I often wonder if you like a man for himself or for what he has to give to you.”
“That’s not for you to wonder about, is it? Besides, as I see it, there is no shame in wanting a successful man who can give me what I want. If he happens to be married, so be it.” (Pg. 16)
So Marissa lives her life her way, doing her thing until she starts receiving death threats; her car tires are slashed; her windshield is slashed and the woman finds her everywhere from at work to her friends’ house..Living in fear seems to be her only option and the book comes to a suspenseful and shocking conclusion that was surprising--Without saying too much there is a lot packed into this 245 page novel about jealousy, betrayal, friendship, adultery, classism and relationships….Hmm interesting and I will pass this one on….
August 12, 2017
I liked this book. Lots of intrigue and drama with a shocking ending. I'm not a big urban lit fan, but this one I liked!
July 5, 2018
Forget about Shades of Grey this was out way before!!
December 12, 2019
Excellent book
April 29, 2025
I could not get through it, but it is definitely a well written story. Just a bit too heavy for me.
February 1, 2025
Marissa was ugh, I don’t understand why everybody handled her with kid gloves. They all made excuses for her behavior and poor decision making. Charmaine tried to hold her accountable, but she often have in and apologized for “offending her”
Girl you were on your way to being a married woman and you’re sitting there begging for friendship and kissing the a$$ of another woman, whom not only sleeps with married men, but doesn’t in no way respect the sanctity of marriage. GET RID OF HER
Levi was a simp plain and simple. How you fall in love with a
304 after spending one evening with her. Knowing her ACTIVE lifestyle like this isn’t her past we’re talking about, ya girl was still getting down while he was lusting after her.
There was really nothing interesting that was happening in the story. We followed Marissa and her woe is me attitude to whole story.
Yes the men owed loyalty to their wives because they took the vows. However, knowingly choosing to go after and play house with married men is just as vile.
Marissa needed a good foot in her a$$ and not a Pat on the back.
Poor Charmaine got the short end of the stick and the home wrecking 304 got the happily ever after.
Ms. Gloria know she knows how to PMO but, ima stick beside her lol
I was definitely surprised by the stalker though. Wasn’t expecting that twist at all.
Girl you were on your way to being a married woman and you’re sitting there begging for friendship and kissing the a$$ of another woman, whom not only sleeps with married men, but doesn’t in no way respect the sanctity of marriage. GET RID OF HER
Levi was a simp plain and simple. How you fall in love with a
304 after spending one evening with her. Knowing her ACTIVE lifestyle like this isn’t her past we’re talking about, ya girl was still getting down while he was lusting after her.
There was really nothing interesting that was happening in the story. We followed Marissa and her woe is me attitude to whole story.
Yes the men owed loyalty to their wives because they took the vows. However, knowingly choosing to go after and play house with married men is just as vile.
Marissa needed a good foot in her a$$ and not a Pat on the back.
Poor Charmaine got the short end of the stick and the home wrecking 304 got the happily ever after.
Ms. Gloria know she knows how to PMO but, ima stick beside her lol
I was definitely surprised by the stalker though. Wasn’t expecting that twist at all.
October 7, 2009
This is the absolute worse book I have ever read in my entire life.
The premise for the plot sounds interesting enough, but was not executed suspensefully. The ending is not worth wading through the grammatical trash that precedes it. If you have any respect for the English language, skip this book. There is almost no scene development. It is almost all dialogue, and there is a lot of quoting without attribution, which is slightly confusing and ruins the flow of the writing.
On top of that, the characters speak very poorly and since dialogue makes up the majority of the book, it is really annoying. I understand the use of dialect and local color in literature, but please! Mallette is no Mark Twain. The writer herself uses colloquial expressions outside of the dialogue which ruins the neutral tone of the narrator. She also interrupts the flow of the book by dividing scenes into different chapters. What is the point of interrupting a non-suspenseful conversation with a chapter break when you are just going to continue the conversation exactly where you left off?
It also felt preachy at times. How many times do we have to hear Brandon, the main character's gay friend, say that he believes in monogamy because he doesn't want to get a STD (as if only homosexuals get them!)?
The breaking point for me was reading the egregious use of mistaken words. Instead of decibels, the word decimals was used. Instead of libel, they wrote liable.
The most enjoyable books are ones that are well-written with a strong, well-executed narrative. There are some books where the reader dislikes the plot but can still appreciate the book for its beautiful prose. There are books that are weakly written but are saved by their suspenseful plots. Then there is "Shades of Jade," a book that has neither beautiful writing nor a decent story. The existence of this book degrades literature, and it disturbs me to think that this tripe got published over the work of some decent writer somewhere.
The premise for the plot sounds interesting enough, but was not executed suspensefully. The ending is not worth wading through the grammatical trash that precedes it. If you have any respect for the English language, skip this book. There is almost no scene development. It is almost all dialogue, and there is a lot of quoting without attribution, which is slightly confusing and ruins the flow of the writing.
On top of that, the characters speak very poorly and since dialogue makes up the majority of the book, it is really annoying. I understand the use of dialect and local color in literature, but please! Mallette is no Mark Twain. The writer herself uses colloquial expressions outside of the dialogue which ruins the neutral tone of the narrator. She also interrupts the flow of the book by dividing scenes into different chapters. What is the point of interrupting a non-suspenseful conversation with a chapter break when you are just going to continue the conversation exactly where you left off?
It also felt preachy at times. How many times do we have to hear Brandon, the main character's gay friend, say that he believes in monogamy because he doesn't want to get a STD (as if only homosexuals get them!)?
The breaking point for me was reading the egregious use of mistaken words. Instead of decibels, the word decimals was used. Instead of libel, they wrote liable.
The most enjoyable books are ones that are well-written with a strong, well-executed narrative. There are some books where the reader dislikes the plot but can still appreciate the book for its beautiful prose. There are books that are weakly written but are saved by their suspenseful plots. Then there is "Shades of Jade," a book that has neither beautiful writing nor a decent story. The existence of this book degrades literature, and it disturbs me to think that this tripe got published over the work of some decent writer somewhere.
January 16, 2016
Suspenseful & Chilling
Marissa Jenkins is a beautiful, successful woman who can have any man she wants. And she chooses married men. She's actually juggling four married men. Her friends worry and criticize her lifestyle, but Marissa loves the money and gifts her lovers supply and sees no reason to give them up. One of her lover's wives finds out about Marissa. And the woman begins harassing her. First with phone calls, then threatening notes, then destroying the car that could have been her husband's gift. Marissa starts to fear for her life, she also starts investigating the four wives to find out who is stalking her. And as she discovers who these women are, she sees them as people, and sees her actions and herself in a new, darker light. At first, Marissa is not a very likeable character. She's smug, she's selfish, she puts on airs, and believes women are jealous of her because she can easily have their men. When the harassment first starts, it's hard to sympathize with her. But Ms. Mallette slowly shows us who Marissa really is, and while you CAN'T condone her actions, you'll understand why she traveled down that road. "Shades of Jade" definitely make you think twice before you start to mess with another woman's man.
Marissa Jenkins is a beautiful, successful woman who can have any man she wants. And she chooses married men. She's actually juggling four married men. Her friends worry and criticize her lifestyle, but Marissa loves the money and gifts her lovers supply and sees no reason to give them up. One of her lover's wives finds out about Marissa. And the woman begins harassing her. First with phone calls, then threatening notes, then destroying the car that could have been her husband's gift. Marissa starts to fear for her life, she also starts investigating the four wives to find out who is stalking her. And as she discovers who these women are, she sees them as people, and sees her actions and herself in a new, darker light. At first, Marissa is not a very likeable character. She's smug, she's selfish, she puts on airs, and believes women are jealous of her because she can easily have their men. When the harassment first starts, it's hard to sympathize with her. But Ms. Mallette slowly shows us who Marissa really is, and while you CAN'T condone her actions, you'll understand why she traveled down that road. "Shades of Jade" definitely make you think twice before you start to mess with another woman's man.
March 1, 2017
What a book. SHADES OF JADE is a very realistic novel about Marissa, a successful woman who has everything she could possibly dream of. So it is beyond me why she likes to mess with other women's men. Her best friend Charmaine always beats her over the head, every so ofter warning her that "one of these days, you're going to mess with the wrong woman's man".
Charmaine even tries to hook Marissa up with her fiance's friend Levi, an absolute sweetheart who falls for Marissa, despite her contemptuous attitude towards him.
As time moves on, Marissa begins receiving crank calls that quickly turn into threats towards her life, and before we know it we're caught up in a story that rapidly turns into a thriller. Boy was Charmaine right! But it may be too late.
I found myself trying to turn the pages so fast that I was literally skipping over words and the end came as a complete shock. There were many parts of the book creeped me out, because I know that this could actually happen to anyone who acts without thinking about the lives they may ruin.
Charmaine even tries to hook Marissa up with her fiance's friend Levi, an absolute sweetheart who falls for Marissa, despite her contemptuous attitude towards him.
As time moves on, Marissa begins receiving crank calls that quickly turn into threats towards her life, and before we know it we're caught up in a story that rapidly turns into a thriller. Boy was Charmaine right! But it may be too late.
I found myself trying to turn the pages so fast that I was literally skipping over words and the end came as a complete shock. There were many parts of the book creeped me out, because I know that this could actually happen to anyone who acts without thinking about the lives they may ruin.
November 28, 2025
Awesome
Shades of Jade is my first book by Gloria Mallette. Before completing the book, I purchased several of her other novels. I like the way she puts twist on her storylines. When you think you have the storyline figured out, she throes a curve in the story, which captivates you and draws you in deeper. The twist and turns of Shade of Jade kept me reading to the wee hours of the night. When I thought I knew Marissa's stalker, Gloria changed lanes on me and surprised me completely.. Gloria, has a creative writing style, which I really enjoyed. Great writer. Great book. I have added Gloria Mallette to my favorite author list.
Shades of Jade is my first book by Gloria Mallette. Before completing the book, I purchased several of her other novels. I like the way she puts twist on her storylines. When you think you have the storyline figured out, she throes a curve in the story, which captivates you and draws you in deeper. The twist and turns of Shade of Jade kept me reading to the wee hours of the night. When I thought I knew Marissa's stalker, Gloria changed lanes on me and surprised me completely.. Gloria, has a creative writing style, which I really enjoyed. Great writer. Great book. I have added Gloria Mallette to my favorite author list.
December 27, 2012
So, once I started this, I simply could not put it down. It is full of drama and suspense. Marissa likes to sleep with married men and feels no sympathy for their families until someone starts threatening her to leave their man alone. The threats soon turn violent and we watch Marissa reap what she sowed. Now, the story isn't perfect, and the ending seemed rushed, but it was a fun read. I am curious about the title though, because it had absolutely nothing to do with the book!
July 15, 2012
this book had everything, mystery, intrigue, love, hatred, friendship, adultery, and romance. With all of that you would think the story would get muddled but surprisingly the story not only stays interesting but highly entertaining. I loved the complexity of the characters and the details of their lives that really grabbed your interest. I would recommend this book.
July 20, 2014
Shades of Jade was a train wreck. Messy, but I couldn’t look away.
I’m giving this book two stars because I finished it.
Read this book at your own risk.
I was bored and finished the story out of curiosity, not for the suspense I thought I was in for.
I’m giving this book two stars because I finished it.
Read this book at your own risk.
I was bored and finished the story out of curiosity, not for the suspense I thought I was in for.
February 24, 2012
The old saying don't judge a book by it's cover is perfect for Marissa. This was a good book on someone finally realizing the errors of their ways. It took a lot for Marissa to realize it and almost cost her, her life but in the end it was life turning event for her. Really good book.
April 2, 2012
This book is one of the best books I have read. I recommend this book to people who enjoy reading love and mystery books. I was so into it I read this book in less than a week, that's how interesting it is:).
August 14, 2015
This was the second book I've read by this author after a recommendation from some friends. This is one of those old school authors that have real style and flavor when writing their stories. I will be looking for more of her works.
October 30, 2007
One of the dopest books ever written. I can think about it right now and see scenes in my mind, not words.
June 6, 2008
Looking for a good read? Pick up Shades Of Jade. You would'nt be disappointed. Especially when you get to the end....
June 27, 2010
this was a GOOD book. I almost read it in one day, alomst.
November 27, 2009
Excellent book!!!! Will keep you at the edge of your seat.
Read
February 27, 2010This book was the bomb and from the beginning to end it was a non-stop roller coaster.
March 16, 2010
SHOCKER! One has to read to the end to fully understand the title and storyline.
Read
August 17, 2011i loved it the, author had my attention the whole time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2013
This book is excellent! It was filled with drama, romance, mystery, and had a pretty good twist in the end! Looking forward to reading more from this author.
April 18, 2016
It was my first book by this author it was a quick read very intresting!!!!
December 30, 2025
Oh my gosh!!! The plot twists!!! This story was amazing, and the book was truly a mystery all the way until the end!! The ending was shocking and worth the read....read this book!!!
June 11, 2010
very good book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews