Dead Broke

by Trista Russell

Thanks to a gunshot wound from her cheating ex-boyfriend, Sarai Emery wakes up after a month in a coma, and all she wants to do is eat, gossip, see her twin brother, and crawl into bed with Damian, who she thinks is still her man. But her memory is ten months behind, and her life went from fabulous to scandalous in the time she forgot. She has no clue that "high class" prostitution was her way of making ends meet. Meanwhile, Sarai's new but forgotten love, Tremel "Mel" Colton, vows to stay by her side. Though she can't remember him, he patiently waits to remind her of the long, steamy nights she spent in his arms. He romances her all over again, but just as lust and love start to blossom, shocking secrets from Sarai's past are revealed and suddenly Mel is unsure of their future together. Also, because she doesn't remember them, some of Sarai's enemies mask themselves as her friends, and Sarai has no idea how much trouble she has gotten herself into. But one thing is certain -- she will never forget her enemies again. In this seductive sequel to her sizzling debut novel, Going Broke, Trista Russell turns down the sheets and turns up the heat in a story about one woman learning that money comes and goes, but good friends, love, and sex are hard to forget.

Genres: African American

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Lady Raven RAVE! · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Story: GOOD
Intimacy Level: VERY GOOD
Enjoyment: FAIR

THOUGHTS

I loved the first book Going Broke. However, reading Dead Broke actually wasn't bad, but I think my frustration has to do with Sarai, the love triangle and her ways. I never met a character whose personality annoys me with the decisions she has made. I am sympathetic to what happen to her in Going Broke when she was shot. But when she woke up with amnesia, it was the same Sarai, different day before she met Mel. Most of the story was filling in the gap for her as she is ten months behind with her memory. I feel for Mel, but Sarai knows how to work a last nerve. Nevertheless, I am a fan of the author and her writing, but book 2 was so frustrating for me. I understand that is and who Sarai's character is but sometimes I wish I could put my hands through the book and give her one good shake.

Still enjoy the book with the other characters. But I wouldn't reread Dead Broke.

[natnat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4⭒ and that’s pushing it, really.

This book being under romance is…a choice. Just like the first book, pass me a cigarette and a lighter. Actually, I need something stronger than that because I was stressed out the ENTIRE book. In the last book the author said “STOP HERE IF YOU’RE A HOPELESS ROMANTIC” and meant it. Well, I should’ve listened because little did I know she was going to have me fight for my life for a slither of hope. Oh and I mean FIGHT.

I’m also not letting the ending slide??? WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAAAATT????

Let me relax, since the book was published in 2008, the ending was definitely meant for its time.

Book TW; heavy SA, sexual harassment, mentions of suicide

[Kellylynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I did not like this very much. Too much sex in my opinion and the euphemisms each time just got so annoying. I do have to admit that otherwise this was a decent book I like the way the author writes. Very quick read for me.

[Shawnpooh · Rating 5 out of 5]

shes cool but she needs to sit herazz down!!!!!!....

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going broke was way better than dead broke!

[Shannon Bond-Cover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

A Great way to finish the story of Sarai and Tremel. So many twists, it was an exciting book to read! Thank you Trista! You never disappoint. I look forward to reading more of your books.

[Edwine Rousseaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

I really hope you make a continuation to this book because I love it , I read all from 1 and 2

[Sophie Sealy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great plot AND it is a sequel

[Anya Sturrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

best urban love story

I love this book umpteen years later and I’m still hook great story line and amazing characters trista you did well

[OOSA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost Overdrawn

The well wishes and prayers worked. After suffering from a gunshot wound and subsequent coma, Sarai has awakened from her deep slumber. But still asleep are some of her memories as she can't remember the last ten months of her life. In her mind, Damian is still her man. India is still her friend. Sleeping with men for money - unthinkable! And Tremel who?

I like Trista's work and have enjoyed all her previous novels up to this point, but I was disappointed with "Dead Broke." Much of "Dead Broke" hinges on what happened in "Going Broke." In reading, I felt like Sarai wasn't the only one with amnesia as I couldn't remember many of the events referenced. I just had to go with the flow and hoped both our memories would return before the book ended. There was plenty of drama, maybe too much. I'm all for drama, twists and turns, but it seemed that quite often this book was reaching and taking things to the extreme. With amnesia comes a change in sexuality? Some of the decisions and directions this novel took had me scratching my head and asking why. And with every question and shake of my head, I came to the same conclusion - this sequel shouldn't have been made. Some stories are too good to mess up with a mediocre sequel or one that doesn't remain true to its previous storyline and characters. The amnesia concept was different, interesting and had possibilities, but this just didn't get it.

On the plus side, Trista did turn up the heat and delivered some sexy, steamy scenes. I also enjoyed the poetry sprinkled here and there. Despite my disappointment, I'm looking forward to more from Trista Russell. She's a talented storyteller.

Reviewed by: Taye

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

Trista Russell tied things up very nicely in the sequel to Going Broke. The story starts off with Sarai coming out of her come caused from a gunshot wound with her best friend Nat, and Tremel still by her side.
Nat continues to be the best friend a girl could ask for throughout both books while Tremel has a slightly more difficult time trusting Saraie again. The complications from her coma and her doctor's orders make things even harder on Tremel and he finds some less than desirable ways to release his stress.
Sarai and Tremel go through a period of having trouble trusting one other, not trusting one another, and beginning to trust another again all in the sequel and all three of those situations are needed with everything else going on in Sarai's life.
Her long-term memory os only coming back in bouts which causes her to not remember certain enemies from her past. These enemies use this against her and Tremel gets caught up in it as well.
A lot of sequels don't need to be read in sequence but I would recommend reading this right after finishing Going Broke. Had I waited I would have had to read Going Broke again- Russell does a decent job of covering what happens in Going Broke but you would get lost fairly easily if you read Dead Broke without reading Going Broke first.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book, so of course I had to read the second book. Completely different direction than I thought the story would go, but it def. made the plot even more interesting. No matter how wrong Sarai does Mel, I still root for her to get it together and realized he is the one for her. lol. I think the most shocking thing about the book was the whole Sarai and Sydney/Cherry thing. I stayed up wayyy too long trying to finish this book, and it was worth it. The last couple of pages in the book was a little cheesy && corny but still cute. I just love Trista Russell's books.

[Kellee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good. Not as good as the prequel, Going Broke. If you plan on reading this book, make sure you have JUST finished Going Broke because if you wait to long, you will probably be confused. I started this book and was really confused because I read Going Broke when it first came out. I had to put it down and start all over after re-reading Going Broke.

[Felicia A Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, began this morning and finished this afternoon. I wish we could give half stars to reviews....I don't think this was a 4-star, but it was more than 3. I had to go back and read the first book, Going Broke, yesterday so that I could follow what was going on in Dead Broke. An entertaining story. A a little unbelieveable, and leaves some loose ends not tied up, but entertaining.

[Elizabeth Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the best books I've ever read..I could not put this book down at all for anything! At first it was a little boring and I wasn't sure if I was goin to like it but once I got into it I couldn't stop.
I read this book in like 2-3 days.

[Damika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I need to get a life or what, but I read this entire book in one sitting. I thought the follow up was better than the first one. Definitely didn't see the ending coming. I think I might slick be a T. Russell fan.

[Tyanne]

This book is good it kinda goes over the first book as a reminder

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good ending, after all that she put Tremel through, he was still there til the very end.

[Pgillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

this book was great. i experienced every emotion while reading it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great read

[Paula Minnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Very promiscuous though. Sometimes I cringed at the “love” scenes.

[Preshus]

i really enjoyed this book but i didnt read the firt one hope to read that one next