Natural Born Hustler

by Nikki Turner

The reigning Queen of Hip-Hop Lit, Nikki Turner returns with a fresh and fierce tale sure to satisfy longtime fans and create new ones.
 
Desember Day is beautiful, confident, and smart. She has more game in the streets than a basketball player does on the court, and her boyfriend, Fame, loves every single inch of her. But unlike her mother, who has been in one bad relationship after another, Desember is not going to wait on a knight in shining armor to save her, and even her love for Fame can’t stand in the way of Desember selling anything and everything—legal or illegal—that can turn a profit, so that she never has to depend on a man. The only thing Desember feels she’s lacking is a father to call her own. And her mother refuses to tell Desember who he is.

When Fame finds himself at the wrong end of a gun, fighting for his life, Desember wants nothing more than to stand by her man, but Fame warns her from his hospital bed that she isn’t safe. Desember wonders if she was the real target. Her mother, concerned for Desember’s safety, arranges for her daughter to travel to Richmond, Virginia, to live with Desember’s father and his wife.And when her father’s identity is finally revealed, Desember learns that she is a Natural Born Hustler.

But are her troubles really over? Or is the worst yet to come?

Genres: Audiobook, African American, Urban, Fiction

114 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

After Nikki Turner read The Coldest Winter Ever by Sistah Souljah she was dismayed that there weren't other books like it. "I wanted to write the kinds of books I wanted to read," said the bestselling author, whose 2002 debut novel, A Hustler's Wife, would go on to sell more than a few 100,000 copies.
While Nikki Turner's first two novels were published by a small publishing house in the Midwest, in 2004 she signed a 2-book deal with One World, an imprint of Ballantine Books, which is part of The Random House Publishing Group. After publishing the first book under that deal, The Glamorous Life in 2005 as well as a short story collection edited by Nikki, Street Chronicles: Tales from da Hood, One World quickly signed Nikki up for three more Nikki Turner Original novels and negotiated a deal with her for her own book line, Nikki Turner Presents. "I want to give new authors the same kind of opportunity I was given," said Nikki. "I want to produce authors who will be household names."

(Taken from author's website)

Reviews

[JazzyRacquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Book Was A Quick Good Read ! & I Mean Quick ! But For Real Where Was The Story ?! I Mean All I Know For Right Now Is What Fame & Desember Does & How They Came To But Nothing Else ! I Mean She Could Have Atleast Told Us Who Shot Him & Why ! This Book Had Very Little Drama ! I'm Just Still Amazed At How Small This Book Is ..... & To Have A Sequel or "Revelation" . ❤

[Sylvia Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never anything against the writer, I just don't like small books. The story always feels incomplete. But i had this one on my shelf for over 10 years
It was a about a urban love story. Both hustlers chasing after the mighty dollar bill

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro!

[K2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a ok read

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is too fast of a read. I understand that Turner wrote this book so her readers could get better acquainted with Desember (and to make a few more bucks before the wheels fall off this wagon) and she did that. We know Desember better.
That being said, would have hurt to flesh out the plot line a bit? 100 pages is hardly enough to really get to know a character. Turner has real talent so she pulls it out as well as any author could IMO, but I still would have liked to have had a full novel here. This isn't the kind of book I usually spend my money on.
Turner is calling this a sort of "bridge" between the first two books in the Hustler series, A Hustler's Wife, Forever a Hustler's Wife, and the third book, Heartbreak of a Hustler's Wife. I'm quickly losing steam when it comes to urban fiction series'. Most of them should be one book wonders, not three-seven book series. Turner is one of the few authors that can pull this off.
So, it's fast, can easily be read in one sitting, has all the usual Turner highlights, and the talent is definitely there. I'm eager to read the next (and hopefully last) book in the series.

[Shanta Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say Nikki did it again good read.

[ZaKiyyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ EVERYTHING NIKKI TURNER! You will not be disappointed! She poured her whole heart into this series and it’s one of my all time favorites! This series is so real, so raw, so street, yet so eloquently written! I liked this branch off! Nikki was so dope in writing this while still giving us the hustlers wife series story, yet creating what could be a separate series on its own. Loved it!

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natural Born Hustler is the story of 18-year-old Desember, who is, as the title says, a Natural Born Hustler. She will sell anything-aside from her body-legal or illegal, to make some money. After leaving her mother's house because she can't stand her stepfather, Desember goes to live with her boyfriend Fame, who is a hustler in his own right. The book begins with him getting shot and ending up in the hospital, seemingly as payback for him having hustled the wrong guy.

The story started off kinda slow, and I didn't really like any of the characters, but once Nikki Turner got into the back story on how Desember and Fame ended up where they were at the beginning, it quickly picked up and got interesting. This was a short read (only 114 pages) and I would've liked to get more into Desember's head to find out a bit more about her. I liked the whole Bonnie and Clyde vibe she and Fame had and I would've liked to see that explored more.

The book ended with a To Be Continued so I will definitely be picking up the next one to see what happens next.

[Lesa Divine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the reviews on this and I had to look pass the reviews Nikki Turner is one of my favorite authors and not complaining I like that this book was short it kept me reading and plus I finished it in one day. Quick fast and to the point. Can't wait for part 2.

Desember is a natuarl born hustler that moved out from her moms house to move in with her boyfriend Fame. They grew up together and never thought they would be living together.

Desember hustled the street selling everything she can get her hands on when it came to her boosting.

Fame robbed drug dealers to get what he want. They both had a understand of their relatinship until Desember broke her own rule causing Fame to be very upset leading to them fighting and locked up.

Fast forward. Fame wakes up in the hospital telling Desember she's in danger.

Going back home to get answers from her mom to where her dad is she finally get her answers to who her dad is.

Waiting patiently for part 2 now.

[Azuree · Rating 1 out of 5]

Descember is dating Fame and within the first 12 pages, she's threated her step-dad, given Fame a handjob in a movie theater, left the theater to go have sex with him in his car in some secluded, woodsy-type spot and watched him get shot 3 times by some guy on a motorcycle. Although this sounds exciting, I found it hard to connect with because all Descember and Fame do is rob people, sell crap to people to make money, have sex and fight. If they're not getting high, they're arguing with someone if gangsta-ese and it just sounds ridiculous. I feel like I've read similar books that were much better written and had more of a plot. I only read this because a committee I sit on chose urban fiction as the topic. I do no recommend this book if you're looking for a good story, a book with a plot or a good read.

[Me'Tova Hollingsworth - Bethley · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I couldn't understand why Nikki put this story before the last book in the Triology, then it dawned on me. Dez is Desember's father. DUH!! So it was a good idea to give us an insight of who Desember was and how it was for her to grow up without her father. It was a page turner! So I'm going to start reading on Part 3 of the series immediately. Des is suppose to be a preacher now, so this should be interesting. I wonder if he will be able to let the streets go and be a legit preacher. I think by Descember coming to live with him and his wife that things are going to get shook up a bit.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seemed more of a short story than a book. In the author's note Ms. Turner wrote that she hoped readers would love this new character. I am disappointed in the character. Desember has yet to capture my attention. I think the only bravo moments was when she pulled the knife on her stepfather for hitting her mother and when she beat up Fame's brother for shooting up her car. I do intend to read the rest of the series in hopes that it gets better. Ms. Turner is still one of my fav's.

[Jamela]

So far it's kind of boring, but I'm waiting for it to heat up. I like this book, it's good. It's so much irony in it. I guess that's what makes it some what so good, but I lost this book and can't find it, so i'm starting a new book... for now.
Found my book and now I'm back on it and it's good. Desember is starting to find out a lot about Fame.

[Tamiko Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good quick read. I like Desember. She is quite a character and I must say her better half Fame is a smart individual. Street smart that is. Waiting for Nikkii Turner to give us the 3rd installment of the Hustler wife series. She needs to stop playing. This little book was only a tease. I finished it in a couple of hours.

[C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast read. Can't wait for the next book. Nikki Turner only wrote this book as a bridge between the second and third installments in "A Hustler's Wife" series. Would like to see how Desember develops as a character.

[E G · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was short, which made me finish it in a few hours. It was an okay read. I will read the part two of this book when it comes. I happen to like Nikki Turner, so I will stick with her. Hopefully, part two is most better read than this one.

[Chennyslick · Rating 3 out of 5]

It shows how a women will do anything just to survive. Sometime the thrill of living on the edge & getting fast money isn't the best decision to make. You have to stop & think is what your doing is what you have to do.

[Tara Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read but I feel it could of been longer. Great story line and I'm excited to read The second book to A hustler's wife as I have also finished that book. I'm hoping that will explain what happens to Fame & Desember.

[Dalesha R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was great but I didn't read the ones before it or the one after… I might just have to… It was short though.
I like the characters a lot but I wish I would have known who shot her boyfriend… I wonder if I'll find that out in the last book

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this series and Nikki Turner's writing is like butter but... I don't see the point of this addition. It was fast paced and not a bad read, its just the story has been told many times and was not necessary to bring Desember into the story. 2.5 stars

[Desiree]

started reading 22FEB2011.

[Dana Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

im about to start reading iy now ! (:

[Shaikerrah Mena · Rating 5 out of 5]

this bookm is crazy

[Tessia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too short!!

[Nee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book!

[Jea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll change my rating after I read the sequel, if there is one... If not, then I really don't like how this book ended.

[Brandye · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a nice, little gateway to Heartbreak of a Hustler's wife.

[Teetee319 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read!

[Crystal Mccune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, Meet Desember and the ending the very last page is going to leave your mouth hanging wide open...You won't see this one coming!!

[Nashata Woods]

Was a great book I love all the books to a hustler's wife!