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Friendly Betrayal
After completing her final undercover assignment with the D.C. police department, Naomi decides to leave the DEA and become a private investigator. She returns to New Orleans to begin her new career. Naomi rekindles a sultry romance with her college sweetheart, Taylor Sylvester, a prosecution attorney. Naomi’s first investigation starts off simple, yet becomes entangled with her past, a past she thought was behind her. The case takes her to New York, where she meets up with a few old friends. Cassandra becomes a key player in her case, along with Henry. Naomi enlists the help of her many friends and associates with the DEA to solve her case. Naomi’s life is forever changed when she discovers her friend’s ultimate betrayal.
283 pages, Paperback
First published December 7, 2000
13 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 6, 2026
This is a quick read. The plot moves along so it is easy to keep reading.
Unfortunately for me the book felt like the sketch out of a story but not one that was fully developed. Some of the lead were very dramatic and the FMC didn’t seem as savvy as she was trying to project.
I found the sideline love story took up too much of the plot. I would have rathered less of that and more time devoted to the thriller/mystery aspects.
Since this is a debut novel I suspect the author will iron out some of the kinks as she gains more experience.
Unfortunately for me the book felt like the sketch out of a story but not one that was fully developed. Some of the lead were very dramatic and the FMC didn’t seem as savvy as she was trying to project.
I found the sideline love story took up too much of the plot. I would have rathered less of that and more time devoted to the thriller/mystery aspects.
Since this is a debut novel I suspect the author will iron out some of the kinks as she gains more experience.
October 22, 2025
I was going back and forth between 3, 3.5 and 4 star. Ultimately, I decided on 4. I’ll tell you why in a second. This book was chosen by my book club and is an Indie author (go Indies🙌🏾). It’s a about an ex DEA agent named Naomi Bloom transitioning from a prosperous career and trying to establish a new life where she focuses on love, friends, family and a new career that allows her to balance all that. While attempting to do that she stumbles, (okay she didn’t stumble but she didn’t know what she was getting into ) in to a big case that has more connections to her previous life than she realized. And so, the story unfolds. It’s a very quick read. I’m slow and it only took me about 2 -2.5 days to finish it. Someone with a decent speed can do it in a day. This books vibe reminded me of Richard osmans book we solve murders which I ultimately didn’t finish.
Now let me tell you why 4 stars . If a book with long chapters feels like the chapters are moving quickly, it’s doing something right. If I put the book down and at ANY point in my day I say “I wonder what (insert character name) is about to do, then the book is doing something right. If a book is assigned for book club (which it was ) and it didn’t feel like a daunting assignment to get though, then it’s doing something right. If a book start making me form theories that km explaining to my husband or friend then YEP! It’s doing something right. And did I mention it’s Indie !
While I do have some things in this book I didn’t like, and the first chapter almost had me DNF and determine it wasn’t for me, the fact that it was an easy and pleasant read by the end means it deserves its props.
Now about the first chapter . Im so bad with my terminology but if I remember correctly I believe it would be described as third person omniscient ? Jimmy did this. Jimmy did that. Jimmy thought this. I’ve seen this done before and it’s actually quite difficult to pull off in my opinion. In the first chapter it didn’t don’t feel like it flowed very smoothly and then between the first and second chapter it felt like we kept slipping in and out of that form.
Also, throughout the entire book we switched perspectives a lot and FAST so when doing that in the first chapter with the third person omniscient I felt a little like I had reading whiplash. I could follow, sure. But it wasn’t smooth and it was taking me out of the story. But it seemed by the thread chapter the author found her groove and it was orettt smooth sailing after that . Enough so that I am glad I didn’t stop with chapter one.
Now, the way the author connected different dots between the various characters lives and solving the case ! Yes yes yes. She did an EXCELLENT Job with that in my opinion. It was so smooth and slick and kept the entire plot interesting. And she circled right on back around to connect all the chapters in glorious fashion.
And I can’t forget to mention the love story. I was a little concerned there for a minute on who was villain and who was hero but the author was nice to us this time lol.
What ultimately determined to be a minor annoyance, though consistent, was that some of the thoughts Naomi had felt like leaps to just move the story forward. At first I was a little annoyed but the plot was moving along so well that I got over it quickly. Again, because the plot really does keep you interested and has good pacing you forget all about the minor things.
Would recommend (in fact I already have). Great book if you’re traveling or have a mini getaway to sink into but ensure you finish.
Now let me tell you why 4 stars . If a book with long chapters feels like the chapters are moving quickly, it’s doing something right. If I put the book down and at ANY point in my day I say “I wonder what (insert character name) is about to do, then the book is doing something right. If a book is assigned for book club (which it was ) and it didn’t feel like a daunting assignment to get though, then it’s doing something right. If a book start making me form theories that km explaining to my husband or friend then YEP! It’s doing something right. And did I mention it’s Indie !
While I do have some things in this book I didn’t like, and the first chapter almost had me DNF and determine it wasn’t for me, the fact that it was an easy and pleasant read by the end means it deserves its props.
Now about the first chapter . Im so bad with my terminology but if I remember correctly I believe it would be described as third person omniscient ? Jimmy did this. Jimmy did that. Jimmy thought this. I’ve seen this done before and it’s actually quite difficult to pull off in my opinion. In the first chapter it didn’t don’t feel like it flowed very smoothly and then between the first and second chapter it felt like we kept slipping in and out of that form.
Also, throughout the entire book we switched perspectives a lot and FAST so when doing that in the first chapter with the third person omniscient I felt a little like I had reading whiplash. I could follow, sure. But it wasn’t smooth and it was taking me out of the story. But it seemed by the thread chapter the author found her groove and it was orettt smooth sailing after that . Enough so that I am glad I didn’t stop with chapter one.
Now, the way the author connected different dots between the various characters lives and solving the case ! Yes yes yes. She did an EXCELLENT Job with that in my opinion. It was so smooth and slick and kept the entire plot interesting. And she circled right on back around to connect all the chapters in glorious fashion.
And I can’t forget to mention the love story. I was a little concerned there for a minute on who was villain and who was hero but the author was nice to us this time lol.
What ultimately determined to be a minor annoyance, though consistent, was that some of the thoughts Naomi had felt like leaps to just move the story forward. At first I was a little annoyed but the plot was moving along so well that I got over it quickly. Again, because the plot really does keep you interested and has good pacing you forget all about the minor things.
Would recommend (in fact I already have). Great book if you’re traveling or have a mini getaway to sink into but ensure you finish.
January 4, 2026
Pretty Good
Great example of a black woman grounded in excellence and strength. Strong black man by her side, unphased by the stragglers hanging on to false narratives of love.
Great example of a black woman grounded in excellence and strength. Strong black man by her side, unphased by the stragglers hanging on to false narratives of love.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews