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Built On Broken Pieces
Family is everything, and Cashmere, Mase, and Kareem couldn't agree more.
When life happens, all they have to stand on is the broken foundation laid before them.
Cashmere, a rising R&B star, is left wondering if his girlfriend Jeda's secret will destroy the love that connects soul mates. In the midst of her facing her demons, she makes a decision that will change their lives forever.
Mason "Mase" Cotton's skills on the court almost guarantees him a million-dollar NBA contract, but will his situationship with Qwana, a married woman, cost him the very thing he loves? While his cousins are caught up in their relationships, Kareem's main focus is getting money. All money is not good money, and he soon finds out by the blood left on his hands.
Caught between what's right and wrong, they all soon find out that the streets don't love nobody... even if it had a love affair with you in the past.
When life happens, all they have to stand on is the broken foundation laid before them.
Cashmere, a rising R&B star, is left wondering if his girlfriend Jeda's secret will destroy the love that connects soul mates. In the midst of her facing her demons, she makes a decision that will change their lives forever.
Mason "Mase" Cotton's skills on the court almost guarantees him a million-dollar NBA contract, but will his situationship with Qwana, a married woman, cost him the very thing he loves? While his cousins are caught up in their relationships, Kareem's main focus is getting money. All money is not good money, and he soon finds out by the blood left on his hands.
Caught between what's right and wrong, they all soon find out that the streets don't love nobody... even if it had a love affair with you in the past.
Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2023
30 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Lamartz Brown
4 books22 followersLamartz Brown: Author, Poetic Pen Lyricist, and Emerging Entertainment Mogul
From the vibrant streets of Paterson, New Jersey, emerges Lamartz Brown, a literary force reshaping the landscape of Contemporary Urban Literature. Graduating magna cum laude from Berkeley College, Lamartz's journey took flight with "Built On Broken Pieces," a gripping exploration of family dynamics and urban realities. Followed by the soul-stirring "Blank Canvas of You," his narrative brush stroked the transformative power of love amidst life's chaos. Most recently, "Back Down Memory Lane" further delves into the raw complexities of memory, trauma, and personal growth.
Behind these narratives lies not just a storyteller, but an architect of emotions and a champion of voices. As the founder of Life Lyrics Entertainment and the Poetic Pen Lyricist, Lamartz nurtures emerging talents, sculpting platforms for the unheard to resonate.
Beyond the inked pages, Lamartz embraces the roles of husband and father, grounding his pursuit of literary excellence in the enduring beauty of family. With each word penned, he forges a legacy that transcends pages, painting a vivid tapestry of urban life, love, and resilience.
From the vibrant streets of Paterson, New Jersey, emerges Lamartz Brown, a literary force reshaping the landscape of Contemporary Urban Literature. Graduating magna cum laude from Berkeley College, Lamartz's journey took flight with "Built On Broken Pieces," a gripping exploration of family dynamics and urban realities. Followed by the soul-stirring "Blank Canvas of You," his narrative brush stroked the transformative power of love amidst life's chaos. Most recently, "Back Down Memory Lane" further delves into the raw complexities of memory, trauma, and personal growth.
Behind these narratives lies not just a storyteller, but an architect of emotions and a champion of voices. As the founder of Life Lyrics Entertainment and the Poetic Pen Lyricist, Lamartz nurtures emerging talents, sculpting platforms for the unheard to resonate.
Beyond the inked pages, Lamartz embraces the roles of husband and father, grounding his pursuit of literary excellence in the enduring beauty of family. With each word penned, he forges a legacy that transcends pages, painting a vivid tapestry of urban life, love, and resilience.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 15, 2022
Beautiful story!
“Built on Broken Pieces” is the debut novel by Lamartz Brown and I was very impressed! His writing style and the language he used throughout the story is very beautiful, almost poetic like. Lamartz delivers such a realistic tale of three young men growing up in the hood. They unfortunately lost their parents from death and addiction, which like so many, leaves their grandmother to raise them. This story centers around Cash, Mase, and their cousin Kareem. Even with the environment that they live in and the struggle that they experience, these young men have avoided being victims of the streets and have dreams and aspirations. Cash is an aspiring R&B singer, Mase is NBA bound, and Kareem is an aspiring doctor.
With big dreams and having to figure out a way to fund those dreams, these young men are definitely led into temptation. Unbeknownst to them, they all find themselves dealing with the devil. They also have very complicated love lives. Cash has a long time girlfriend that seems like they are off more than they are on and Mase finds himself falling for someone who that should be off limits. But the heart wants what it wants right?
This story was based in the early 2000s and it brought me back to that time. The music, fashion, and language gave me a feeling of nostalgia. Lamartz delivers a story with a solid storyline with some unexpected twists. He did an amazing job of telling a story from multiple perspectives with everything coming back full circle. I was definitely shook with the twists towards the end!
While the storyline was interesting, it takes a while to get things moving. Lamartz gives us thorough character development, but I felt it stalled the storyline at times. The story had a very hypnotic strong start, stalled a bit in the middle, and finished strong! I felt an array of emotions while reading this book! I would describe it as a bit of a slow burn urban fiction with some romantic elements. This was a strong debut novel and I look forward to seeing what Lamartz brings us next! I could definitely see him delivering a strong black romance story! I highly recommend you guys checking out this story! Phenomenal character development and a great storyline once things really get going! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Built on Broken Pieces” is the debut novel by Lamartz Brown and I was very impressed! His writing style and the language he used throughout the story is very beautiful, almost poetic like. Lamartz delivers such a realistic tale of three young men growing up in the hood. They unfortunately lost their parents from death and addiction, which like so many, leaves their grandmother to raise them. This story centers around Cash, Mase, and their cousin Kareem. Even with the environment that they live in and the struggle that they experience, these young men have avoided being victims of the streets and have dreams and aspirations. Cash is an aspiring R&B singer, Mase is NBA bound, and Kareem is an aspiring doctor.
With big dreams and having to figure out a way to fund those dreams, these young men are definitely led into temptation. Unbeknownst to them, they all find themselves dealing with the devil. They also have very complicated love lives. Cash has a long time girlfriend that seems like they are off more than they are on and Mase finds himself falling for someone who that should be off limits. But the heart wants what it wants right?
This story was based in the early 2000s and it brought me back to that time. The music, fashion, and language gave me a feeling of nostalgia. Lamartz delivers a story with a solid storyline with some unexpected twists. He did an amazing job of telling a story from multiple perspectives with everything coming back full circle. I was definitely shook with the twists towards the end!
While the storyline was interesting, it takes a while to get things moving. Lamartz gives us thorough character development, but I felt it stalled the storyline at times. The story had a very hypnotic strong start, stalled a bit in the middle, and finished strong! I felt an array of emotions while reading this book! I would describe it as a bit of a slow burn urban fiction with some romantic elements. This was a strong debut novel and I look forward to seeing what Lamartz brings us next! I could definitely see him delivering a strong black romance story! I highly recommend you guys checking out this story! Phenomenal character development and a great storyline once things really get going! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 22, 2021
Cash and Mason lose their parents early in the story, forcing them to be closer with the family they have left. Kareem is their cousin, but he's always been like a brother to his two cousins. Prevailing after tragedy, these guys put together their broken pieces and try to make the best of life. Cash is an up-and-coming singer with a girlfriend dealing with a lot of trauma from her past. Mase is a basketball player caught up with a married woman. Kareem is a pre-med student that has a fascination with the fast life. As this story unfolds, secrets are revealed, and it leaves this family struggling to put broken pieces together again. "We never expected life to be what it was. We were trying to make the best of it. I didn't know what this new chapter of my life had in store. If all of these good things were a sign, I was moving in the right direction. I looked around at the many faces, all of us encountering things that should have broken us."
This was the author's first book and I think he did a decent job of telling the story. It's an urban fiction read, but there are some romance elements added to it. There's a good bit of drama added to the book that will definitely keep you reading. The author also adds a plot twist, which I love, that will make you want to go back and reread to see what you missed. If you're looking to add another male author to your TBR list, definitely give this book a try.
This was the author's first book and I think he did a decent job of telling the story. It's an urban fiction read, but there are some romance elements added to it. There's a good bit of drama added to the book that will definitely keep you reading. The author also adds a plot twist, which I love, that will make you want to go back and reread to see what you missed. If you're looking to add another male author to your TBR list, definitely give this book a try.
January 3, 2022
Review
3.5 This first person story told through the eyes of three male protagonists. The story opened strong and finished strong. The protagonists were “good boys” on the right track and not the typical d-boys. The author did a good job with creating relatable characters and relationships. He did a good job with developing the characters as well as laying out a clear plot
The plot was developed and the characters were somewhat interesting. The story had quite a few space fillers I.e. flowery descriptive language that didn’t add any value to the story. While the author took time to build each scene. I felt the story got bogged down in repetitive or unnecessary details, especially in Cash and Mase’s romantic
relationships. It was a good twist with Q, even if it was easy to figure out early on. It just made sense that her backstory was what it it was. I only had one question at the end of the story and that was the cause of the relationship between Jane and Grammy. It was also interesting how easily Kareem adopted his “new” title. All in all, this was a good read.
I also loved the note the author wrote to his son. This was a great gift to him.
3.5 This first person story told through the eyes of three male protagonists. The story opened strong and finished strong. The protagonists were “good boys” on the right track and not the typical d-boys. The author did a good job with creating relatable characters and relationships. He did a good job with developing the characters as well as laying out a clear plot
The plot was developed and the characters were somewhat interesting. The story had quite a few space fillers I.e. flowery descriptive language that didn’t add any value to the story. While the author took time to build each scene. I felt the story got bogged down in repetitive or unnecessary details, especially in Cash and Mase’s romantic
relationships. It was a good twist with Q, even if it was easy to figure out early on. It just made sense that her backstory was what it it was. I only had one question at the end of the story and that was the cause of the relationship between Jane and Grammy. It was also interesting how easily Kareem adopted his “new” title. All in all, this was a good read.
I also loved the note the author wrote to his son. This was a great gift to him.
September 17, 2021
First of all,I recommend EVERYONE to read this
This book had such a great storyline, your words are hypnotic and the way you captured the reality of hood life and the struggles is on point. I did not put this book down until I was done, this was definitely a page turner. The intricate ways all the characters fit together so seamlessly is genius. You'll love and hate each character at some point of the book. Definitely a hard one to put down! I absolutely loved the way the you wrote this from beginning to end.
This book had such a great storyline, your words are hypnotic and the way you captured the reality of hood life and the struggles is on point. I did not put this book down until I was done, this was definitely a page turner. The intricate ways all the characters fit together so seamlessly is genius. You'll love and hate each character at some point of the book. Definitely a hard one to put down! I absolutely loved the way the you wrote this from beginning to end.
September 18, 2021
A really good read for the authors first book!!!
This book was a joy to read a little slow in the beginning but once you get into it it’s gets really good! I love the fact he lets you get to know the life of every character The character i loved the most was Mase i hate the fact he lost his life he had a promising career! Can’t wait to read what’s next!
This book was a joy to read a little slow in the beginning but once you get into it it’s gets really good! I love the fact he lets you get to know the life of every character The character i loved the most was Mase i hate the fact he lost his life he had a promising career! Can’t wait to read what’s next!
September 23, 2021
Great Read
This was my first read by this author. Enjoyed the storyline and these characters. Held my attention and I couldn't put it down....a page-turner. I really like how we got to know each character and I enjoyed them all. It was full of drama and secrets with some twist and turns, that keep me wondering what's happening next. And that ending.... Great debut and I can't wait to see what's next for this author. Great job Lamartz Brown.
This was my first read by this author. Enjoyed the storyline and these characters. Held my attention and I couldn't put it down....a page-turner. I really like how we got to know each character and I enjoyed them all. It was full of drama and secrets with some twist and turns, that keep me wondering what's happening next. And that ending.... Great debut and I can't wait to see what's next for this author. Great job Lamartz Brown.
March 8, 2022
Built on Broken Pieces follows the lives of three young Black men; Cashmere “The LoverBoy”, Reem “The Hustler”, and Mase “The Reformed Playa”, as they navigate familial relationships, romantic relationships, and personal conflicts. I would describe this book as urban fiction with a dash of romance and a sprinkle of the streets.
The plot and conflicts are super clear from the beginning, but that twist with Mase at the end wasn’t something I could foresee. For me, the most interesting part was Cash and Jeda’s relationship (I was rooting for them lol). That tea on Jane was interesting too (I knew it from the beginning lol).
There are filler words and unimportant parts that do nothing to push the plot forward. That made everything move slowly. I found myself instinctively skipping over it.
I think that this is good to be Lamartz Brown’s debut novel, but I am interested in seeing his growth in the future.
Overall I’ll give Built on Broken Pieces is 3.5 ⭐️s!
The plot and conflicts are super clear from the beginning, but that twist with Mase at the end wasn’t something I could foresee. For me, the most interesting part was Cash and Jeda’s relationship (I was rooting for them lol). That tea on Jane was interesting too (I knew it from the beginning lol).
There are filler words and unimportant parts that do nothing to push the plot forward. That made everything move slowly. I found myself instinctively skipping over it.
I think that this is good to be Lamartz Brown’s debut novel, but I am interested in seeing his growth in the future.
Overall I’ll give Built on Broken Pieces is 3.5 ⭐️s!
January 31, 2022
This was my first read by this author and I am impressed! I would have never guess that this was his first book! This author did a great job with making you feel like you were apart of the entire storyline! I loved the drama and the plot twists! If you’re looking for a book that’s gonna have you on the edge of your seat the entire read this this is the one!! Most definitely wort 5 stars!
October 4, 2023
This book is the truth!!!
For this to be Lamartz Brown first book I got to say he really did his thing!! I love how each character has their very own story to tell and had their own perspectives, while still have everything come full circle cohesively! The beginning of the book reads a little bit slow but I believe this was way for you to get to know the main characters and all of there idiosyncrasies. I loved all the main characters which were Mase, Cashmere and Kareem. My favorite character by far was Cashmere because I am a romance person and he was so loving and patient towards his girlfriend Jeda and just wanted to make her happy. Qualities like that really pull at my heartstrings. Mase and Kareem added excitement, grittiness, street smarts, and entanglements to the story. The ending was a huge surprise which made the building anticipation of the beginning worth it!!! I would definitely recommend this book to readers if you are looking for a true coming of age urban story filled with love, devotion, deception and brotherhood.
For this to be Lamartz Brown first book I got to say he really did his thing!! I love how each character has their very own story to tell and had their own perspectives, while still have everything come full circle cohesively! The beginning of the book reads a little bit slow but I believe this was way for you to get to know the main characters and all of there idiosyncrasies. I loved all the main characters which were Mase, Cashmere and Kareem. My favorite character by far was Cashmere because I am a romance person and he was so loving and patient towards his girlfriend Jeda and just wanted to make her happy. Qualities like that really pull at my heartstrings. Mase and Kareem added excitement, grittiness, street smarts, and entanglements to the story. The ending was a huge surprise which made the building anticipation of the beginning worth it!!! I would definitely recommend this book to readers if you are looking for a true coming of age urban story filled with love, devotion, deception and brotherhood.
September 4, 2025
Deeply moving story of brotherhood, coming of age challenges & legaxy
So many challenges & topics laced throughout this urban tale of one family’s gifts vs. burdens & everything in between. I cared so much about the destiny of these 3 young men you would swear it was real life. Excited to read more of Lamartz Brown’s work!
So many challenges & topics laced throughout this urban tale of one family’s gifts vs. burdens & everything in between. I cared so much about the destiny of these 3 young men you would swear it was real life. Excited to read more of Lamartz Brown’s work!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews