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Real Wifeys #1

Real Wifeys: On the Grind

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CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND HER AND GOLDIE WILL USE ANYTHING TO GET IT. . . . In the hood every day is about struggle and survival, and no one understands that more than twenty-two-year-old Kaeyla “Goldie” Dennis. So when the affair she’s been having with a wealthy married man comes crashing to an end, Goldie doesn’t waste any time getting back on her grind. Her new hustle? Running a strip club where she also happens to be the main attraction. Pretty soon she’s knee-deep in the skin game with more money than she ever imagined. Enough to bring more girls on and even hire a security detail. But as the saying goes, More money, more problems. When one of her dancers becomes the victim of a vicious assault, Goldie must decide whether to remain silent and continue her lucrative business or tell the truth and lose everything she’s worked for. Her decision will test her devotion to the motto she seems to live by: Get Rich or Die Trying . . .Real Wifeys is the first installment of a fierce and gritty new series by the coauthor of one of the classics of street fiction, Desperate Hoodwives.

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

30 people are currently reading
1072 people want to read

About the author

Meesha Mink

15 books215 followers
Meesha Mink is the popular pseudonym of Niobia Bryant, the award winning and national bestselling author of more than forty works of romance and commercial mainstream fiction. Twice she has won RT Magazine's Best African-American/Multicultural Romance Award, "Kiss the Ring"--written as Meesha Mink--was listed as one of the Library Journal's Best Books, and her books have appeared in Ebony, Essence, The New York Post, The Star Ledger, The Dallas Morning News and many other national publications. One of her bestselling book has been adapted to film and broadcast on Centric/BETHer.

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5 stars
260 (48%)
4 stars
148 (27%)
3 stars
91 (16%)
2 stars
24 (4%)
1 star
14 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for OOSA .
1,802 reviews237 followers
February 16, 2011
Get Money,

Kaeyla Dennis was fortunate enough to have her grandmother, Mama Bit, in her life, but she still couldn't help feeling neglected by her drug addicted mother and unknown Caucasian father. While most girls in the neighborhood had their fair share of wears, Kaeyla’s choices were limited. While window shopping, she meets Dyme, an older entrepreneur, who takes the time to upgrade and mold Kaeyla aka Goldie into mistress material.

After six years of promises, Goldie finds herself on the outside. No longer falling for Dyme's lies and excuses, she's on her own. No high school diploma, she uses her street smarts to get through hustle after hustle. When Goldie is talked into stripping, she decides to take it to the next level. Opening her own spot, securing her own fate, Goldie is a star quickly rising to the top.

Cash Rules Everything Around Me, and soon Goldie realizes the error of her ways. What will the cost of having it all ultimately cost her in the end?

'Real Wifeys: On The Grind' left this reader wondering why was ‘wifeys’ plural, when the story is only about one person. Also, who is the wifey in the story, as the main character is a mistress? 'Real Wifeys: On The Grind,' has been told a multitude of times and in Meesha Mink's version there is nothing new or unique. While you rejoice that she's learning to utilize her independence, she still lacks any real growth as she's put back in the top position and squanders her wealth on labels while living in an apartment that cost the same amount as her underwear. Something is really wrong with this message. Aside from my disappointment in the story, the editing is just as disturbing as there are so many missing and misspelled words. Minus the pictures, I felt as though I was reading a fashion magazine.

Reviewed by: Crystal
Profile Image for Celena White.
2 reviews
April 28, 2011
Before the reading- Looking at the cover, I thought the main character was going to be the type of person who knows how to survive out in the streets. She know when and how to make her money.

During the reading- As Im reading the book, I notice that situations in the book does occur. It's about a woman name Goldie that has been raised in "the hood". She is a bi-racial child and lots of females has hated on her. She hated her life because lots of females talked about her because she was lite skinned and her family was struggling.... Later on in her teenage years, she meets a guy named Dime, he owned a clothing store. Although he is married with kids, he starts a relationship with her and spoils her with all kinds of things. You name it, she got it. She is now in her late 20's and he stil spoils her with everythig. Life has been good to her, not worrying about jobs or beening broke. His wife finds our about Goldie and her spoilness ends. She now starts to her and work for her money.

After the reading- The book was good. It let women know that they have to depend on themselves if they want anything in life because a man isn't always going to be there.
Profile Image for Shanae.
684 reviews18 followers
February 3, 2011
I give Meesha Mink 4 stars for this novel because, while it was an average tale, Mink manages to relay a complete story, something most urban writers fail to do. However, I found it quite vulgar and the scenes weren't necessary. Mink's characters were somewhat developed, and I'm happy the main female character wasn't completely unlikeable, which happens in typical urban novels. It was a quick, easy and entertaining read. If you're bored or feeling depressed, then pick this one up - it's bound to make you feel better about your situation.
Profile Image for E G.
255 reviews12 followers
April 24, 2011
This book was real good. It was a fast read. You know how some books are fake and u know that stuff like that in the book doesn't happen in real life. This book was real. I love how Mink kept it real. And I loved the ending. Five stars Mink.
Profile Image for Monique.
1,815 reviews
May 19, 2011
Not what I expected and recommended only to a urban lit fan because it's not enough to keep this avid reader engaged.
Profile Image for Sheryl Boyce.
398 reviews8 followers
October 22, 2020
First book of the Real Wifeys series and it was good. Goldie was a young girl with a married Sugar Daddy taking care of her needs and wants. After six years of lies of one day becoming Dyme's wife, she ends it with him. She is determined to get rich on her own. Becoming a stripper was not her plan but she made it her big hustle. Read to find out how it worked out for her.
Profile Image for Katrina.
274 reviews
February 19, 2024
This book was at best in my opinion is mediocre. I mean if you gone write a book, write a book and don’t play around with the craft. The plot, settings, themes, and characters was just a mess of sleeping around, money, rape, drugs, and turning stripping into a billion dollar business. Not a fan of this book as it just puts black people in the wrong spotlight and this is a fictional book.
Profile Image for Lynne.
194 reviews
June 20, 2019
A fun, quick, interesting read. There was a section that read as pretty biphobic / lesbian-phobic, so I knocked off a start for that. Lots of good, smutty scenes, which is already a good time. There is a sexual assault that is described, just so you know.
Profile Image for Jennifer M.
838 reviews13 followers
July 10, 2017
I can not say this was my favorite book but it definitely was an eye opener to understand life for other people and how easy it can take a downward spiral.
Profile Image for Moni'soi Humes.
Author 12 books5 followers
October 8, 2017
I could not put this book down. I read the entire book in a few days. Great read! Dope ending. The main character really gets instant revenge.
Profile Image for Ms.Toni.
173 reviews22 followers
February 8, 2011
She Fancy, Huh

Born with no spoon in her mouth, Kaeyla ‘Goldie’ Denise didn’t take much time considering her options when she was approached by Dyme, an older, married businessman looking to take care of her. At sixteen, Goldie traded in her run-down sneaks for name brand heels. Nails done. Hair done. Everything did. That is until everything came to a screeching halt. With no one to depend on but herself, Goldie gets on her grind. It’s grind or starve.

“Real Wifeys: On the Grind’s” main character is pretty stereotypical. She’s pretty. Her sex is good. She shops to keep herself laced in the latest and greatest. Basically, she’s a bad b*tch. Somewhere in between the looking good, shopping good, and sexing good, readers get a story of struggles, obstacles, determination, and coming into one’s own. However, that journey is quickly lost as the book dips to a level of superficiality and renders the read unmemorable and typical. Nuvo, Gucci Rush, Bath & Body Works, IMAN, Baby Phat, Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton, Giuseppe, Lexus, Jaguar, Benz heavily grace the pages. How silk sheets or an Egyptian towel propel the plot is beyond me. I can’t forget my all-time favorite when the main character was described as a ‘golden Pocahontas dressed in Gucci shades.’ Did I mention her Beyonce-like hips, gold hair, and gold eyes? Goldie cut, shifted, rolled and flashed her golden-colored eyes so often it became rather annoying. Before long, I was cutting, shifting, rolling and flashing my coffee-colored (no sugar, no cream) eyes. She’s pretty, we get it! It was just so unnecessary and I wish that authors would just cease and desist with all the superficial and unnecessary.

“Real Wifeys: On the Grind” is not a bad read but it’s an incredibly average one. The first installment of a series, I think I’ll pass on the next installment.

OOSA BOTM
Profile Image for Ms.Toni.
173 reviews22 followers
February 8, 2011
She Fancy, Huh

Born with no spoon in her mouth, Kaeyla ‘Goldie’ Denise didn’t take much time considering her options when she was approached by Dyme, an older, married businessman looking to take care of her. At sixteen, Goldie traded in her run-down sneaks for name brand heels. Nails done. Hair done. Everything did. That is until everything came to a screeching halt. With no one to depend on but herself, Goldie gets on her grind. It’s grind or starve.

“Real Wifeys: On the Grind’s” main character is pretty stereotypical. She’s pretty. Her sex is good. She shops to keep herself laced in the latest and greatest. Basically, she’s a bad b*tch. Somewhere in between the looking good, shopping good, and sexing good, readers get a story of struggles, obstacles, determination, and coming into one’s own. However, that journey is quickly lost as the book dips to a level of superficiality and renders the read unmemorable and typical. Nuvo, Gucci Rush, Bath & Body Works, IMAN, Baby Phat, Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton, Giuseppe, Lexus, Jaguar, Benz heavily grace the pages. How silk sheets or an Egyptian towel propel the plot is beyond me. I can’t forget my all-time favorite when the main character was described as a ‘golden Pocahontas dressed in Gucci shades.’ Did I mention her Beyonce-like hips, gold hair, and gold eyes? Goldie cut, shifted, rolled and flashed her golden-colored eyes so often it became rather annoying. Before long, I was cutting, shifting, rolling and flashing my coffee-colored (no sugar, no cream) eyes. She’s pretty, we get it! It was just so unnecessary and I wish that authors would just cease and desist with all the superficial and unnecessary.

“Real Wifeys: On the Grind” is not a bad read but it’s an incredibly average one. The first installment of a series, I think I’ll pass on the next installment.

OOSA BOTM (Feb)
Profile Image for Delonya.
698 reviews20 followers
May 1, 2011
Her Mind Is On Her Money & Her Money Is On Her Mind....

At 22 Kaeyla "Goldie" Dennis finds herself on a serious paper chase after wasting 6 years as the mistress of Damion "Dyme" Gunners. At 23 years Goldie's senior Dyme had no problem selling young Goldie a dream all while wooing her with the material things her grandmother couldn't provide. But after a public confrontation with Dyme's real wife Goldie finally realizes that her wifey status is all a facade. But after six years of just lounging in luxury Goldie hasn't attained any of the skills necessary to pay the bills. This is what Dyme is banking on as he patiently waits for Goldie to reclaim her sidepiece role.

Author Meesha Mink revisits a familiar theme with Real Wifeys and although the story has been told before she still manages to allow Goldie and her struggles to stand out amongst other novels with similar storylines. Despite Goldie's obvious faults like her materialistic nature she still had endearing qualities that were exemplified whenever her back was against the wall. And when her cash rules everything around me mentality is proven to be flawed Goldie truly learns how to utilize money and power to earn respect.
Profile Image for Angelia.
489 reviews64 followers
February 21, 2012
This was the first solo novel by Meesha Mink although I LOVED the HOODWIVES series...this one fell a little short...Goldie is a hood chick that had nothing..... met a man 23yrs her senior and was well taken care of until at the age of 22 she determine not to stay in her lane as the jump off....Goldie had done that for six years and now she wanted to be the WIFE....She wanted to believe that Damion "Dyme" Gunners was gonna make her is wife eventhough he already had one....with his punk a**....and if you read this book you will see why he's a punk....This was not a GREAT read but it was decent....Wish there was more detail about the trial... what happened with Yummy...Did she end up with Has and what about Make$'s career.... how did she get the apartment and what career path did she take to have the life she wanted.....But I guess all that will be shared in the next installment....
62 reviews
January 28, 2011
Infinite Ink Unlimited Ink, Meesha Mink penned this book well. Real Wifeys On The Grind is a five star page turner that you will not want to put down. Meesha takes you on a shotgun ride thru the life of Goldie. She had her up and downs and a few bumps in the road but, life must go on "Brand-new hustle...but the same old gind" This is a must read,must recommend and must review. Real Wifeys
Profile Image for Mrs Tupac.
724 reviews52 followers
June 28, 2017
this got on my nerves. Alot of shiesty negros & skizzers Goldie was no different ..... I did not find a likeable character in the book and towards the end I felt bad for the other girls. Goldie went from n*gga to n*gga, so I really didn't understand the wifey part. If she knew her actions was making mama bit roll around in her grave why keep doing the same sh!t to disappoint her. I didn't like the way she operated , if she didn't care about what people thought and wearing expensive labels ; she could've went back to school , took up a trade, or found Jesus lol her a** got on my nerves.
1 review
March 13, 2011
We loved this book because they were so many different scenarios that led to an interesting book discussion over drinks and appetizers. We all moved between feeling sorry for Goldie and waiting for her downfall as payback for the some of the things she got away with.
Profile Image for SerenaBeReading.
533 reviews24 followers
June 4, 2011
This book had me gripped from beginning until end. I wanted to hate Goldie but it was hard to not hurt for her. The only thing I didn't like was the ending but if it means a sequel then I'm good! Not sure who did the proofreading but some parts were jacked up lol.
Profile Image for Yvette.
176 reviews
June 4, 2011
I picked this one up out of curiousity because normally I wouldn't read this genre. To my surprise I really enjoyed it. It was low down, dirty, gritty, sexy, and dramatic! This chick was all about the dollar bill and NOTHING was going to stand in her way of getting it.
62 reviews
Read
July 29, 2011
This ish right here is a must read for 2011... If you don't read nothing else this year please read this novel. Meesha Mink penned this book well... Kaeyla a.k.a Goldie Dennis has seen and done way to much at a very young age, and will son find out that more money also means more problems.
Profile Image for Lalawn.
2 reviews1 follower
August 14, 2011
I was some what on the fence about the title because of the word (wifey) , but I soon learned it's nothing like the wifey series I was use to reading. I loved this book form the first chapter to the last. Can't wait to see what this author puts out next!
Profile Image for Alysia.
76 reviews
September 25, 2011
This book is very interesting and I cant wait to finish it.
I am done with this book and it was very good. Goldie goes on one to get the money she desire's. I don't think part two is out yet but cant wait to see what happens next.
Profile Image for Diana Townsend.
Author 14 books36 followers
March 18, 2013
I really enjoyed the first installment to this series, even though I read the second one first. Goldie is the typical hood chick and this is the typical urban book. I liked it, but I am starting to feel like when you have read one of these, you have read them all.
Profile Image for The Book Chick.
334 reviews14 followers
August 2, 2013
Meesha Mink aka Nyobia Bryant told a great story. She was able to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. I've read her work before, but it wasn't this good. She made this street lit draw on some deep emotion and it also taught some hard lessons.
Profile Image for Rachel.
205 reviews10 followers
July 17, 2012
Good book. Kept me reading. A little slow in parts.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

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