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Bomaw #1
Bomaw - Volume One: The Beauty Of Man and Woman
The beginning of our interracial romance, drama, series concerning a black woman's desire and pursuit of peace, self-growth, and security - and a little happiness wouldn't hurt. She decides that relocating to Wisconsin would be the best ticket to bring all of this about, so leaves the crowded city of Chicago and makes her home in a small town, mostly white population of 453 citizens - however as it turns out, not everything that she plans turns out the way she was expecting, due to one, Shawn Everett McPherson - her neighbor across the road.
350 pages, Paperback
Published January 24, 2010
15 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Keyes
25 books137 followersBorn in the south, Mississippi - grew up back and forth between there and Chicago, where she went to school. Keyes married early in life and gave birth to three beautiful children, two daughters, and a son. Currently, she has 7 grandsons and 1 granddaughter
She lives in Colorado now - after relocating from England where she used the backdrop of the small island to learn more about the world's historical past. A past that she's made a point to write about, as Ms. Keyes is a lover of history.
Currently, she is working on Saoirse - her sixth historical with Cromwell's reign that brought about Irish slaves - which will be followed by Fancy Free - another historical surrounding Cora's Daughters - the Fancy Series.
She can be found @ amberswann.org - where she continues to slowly build a world of quality interracial literature!
Drop in and join her blog!
http://amberswann.blogspot.com
She lives in Colorado now - after relocating from England where she used the backdrop of the small island to learn more about the world's historical past. A past that she's made a point to write about, as Ms. Keyes is a lover of history.
Currently, she is working on Saoirse - her sixth historical with Cromwell's reign that brought about Irish slaves - which will be followed by Fancy Free - another historical surrounding Cora's Daughters - the Fancy Series.
She can be found @ amberswann.org - where she continues to slowly build a world of quality interracial literature!
Drop in and join her blog!
http://amberswann.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 27, 2015
I am posting my original review of the BOMAW series here, but as I am rereading the series in anticipation of the release of volume 13 at the end of March I will be adding reviews to each individual book as well over the next couple of days. I find that I am enjoying these books just as much the second time around despite the problems I mention in the review! My original review on my blog was back in September of 2013. Here's the original review:
I'm actually at a loss as to where to start with this review. To be totally honest I don't know what possessed me to even buy this book in the first place because it goes against so many of my usual "rules" that I follow when picking a book. First the cover didn't exactly grab me at first, I'm not use to seeing this kind of digital art I suppose, but I do appreciate the amount of talent and time it would take to produce these kinds of images so I got over that one by book 3. Secondly, and this is the big one for a big ole cheapskate like myself, each book is $7.95 and there are 12 books in this ongoing series.That's right $7.95 x 12, woo Lordy! However, I have to say that by book 5 I no longer needed to pop a Tums every time that I hit the buy button because this series is just that addictive and I read all 12 books in a week! The first book is a little rough, the editing in it isn't the best, the dialogue has a little too much slang for my taste, but the story!!! The story is so engaging that even I got over the flaws that usually make me very cranky.
The series revolves around Sylvia and Shawn, their families, and the trials and joys of merging two very different families together. Sylvia is an African American woman in her late 30's with two young adult children. She has moved to Wisconsin from Chicago to start over after her husband died and left her an insurance policy that allows her the financial freedom to become the writer she wants to be. Shawn is a white man in his 40's, recently divorced with a young daughter who has moved home from California and just happens to own the house across the road from Sylvia. Shawn is a photographer and artist with an interesting and convoluted past and just wants a chance to reconnect with a slower and less false life than what he was involved in back in California. All of the characters in this series are complex and worthwhile. There are no wasted story lines here.
Each book gets better and better with more information about the families, the pasts of Sylvia and Shawn, and plot twists that will leave you wishing that people in your real world would just stop talking to you so that you can keep reading in peace. (Okay I admit that may just be me, but my kids and husband kept wanting to talk to me at the good parts-dang!) Shawn's family is very different and his mother Gert is a hoot. There are times in this series where you really wish that you can smack one of them in the back of the head-that's right I'm thinking of you Sylvia! But if a book brings you that kind of emotion you know you have a winner. If you can get over the price and make it through the poor editing in book 1 you will so be glad that you did. There are still issues in later books as well but they get less and less and the dialogue flows much better. I am so glad that I took that risk and am now really looking forward to plunking down my tightly squeezed scrilla (that's money for all of you non hip mom's out there) for volume 13 when it comes out.
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
I'm actually at a loss as to where to start with this review. To be totally honest I don't know what possessed me to even buy this book in the first place because it goes against so many of my usual "rules" that I follow when picking a book. First the cover didn't exactly grab me at first, I'm not use to seeing this kind of digital art I suppose, but I do appreciate the amount of talent and time it would take to produce these kinds of images so I got over that one by book 3. Secondly, and this is the big one for a big ole cheapskate like myself, each book is $7.95 and there are 12 books in this ongoing series.That's right $7.95 x 12, woo Lordy! However, I have to say that by book 5 I no longer needed to pop a Tums every time that I hit the buy button because this series is just that addictive and I read all 12 books in a week! The first book is a little rough, the editing in it isn't the best, the dialogue has a little too much slang for my taste, but the story!!! The story is so engaging that even I got over the flaws that usually make me very cranky.
The series revolves around Sylvia and Shawn, their families, and the trials and joys of merging two very different families together. Sylvia is an African American woman in her late 30's with two young adult children. She has moved to Wisconsin from Chicago to start over after her husband died and left her an insurance policy that allows her the financial freedom to become the writer she wants to be. Shawn is a white man in his 40's, recently divorced with a young daughter who has moved home from California and just happens to own the house across the road from Sylvia. Shawn is a photographer and artist with an interesting and convoluted past and just wants a chance to reconnect with a slower and less false life than what he was involved in back in California. All of the characters in this series are complex and worthwhile. There are no wasted story lines here.
Each book gets better and better with more information about the families, the pasts of Sylvia and Shawn, and plot twists that will leave you wishing that people in your real world would just stop talking to you so that you can keep reading in peace. (Okay I admit that may just be me, but my kids and husband kept wanting to talk to me at the good parts-dang!) Shawn's family is very different and his mother Gert is a hoot. There are times in this series where you really wish that you can smack one of them in the back of the head-that's right I'm thinking of you Sylvia! But if a book brings you that kind of emotion you know you have a winner. If you can get over the price and make it through the poor editing in book 1 you will so be glad that you did. There are still issues in later books as well but they get less and less and the dialogue flows much better. I am so glad that I took that risk and am now really looking forward to plunking down my tightly squeezed scrilla (that's money for all of you non hip mom's out there) for volume 13 when it comes out.
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
June 22, 2010
Can't really give a review since I've written it myself. But I can say this, I had myself a good time while writing it, and I hope other's enjoy reading it.
May 28, 2013
Loved this Series. 1-12 books. If you love IR stores this has to be one of the best! Well worth the read!!!
May 14, 2015
I contemplated reading this book and glad I decided to when I tell you this is the best BOOK I have read I along time
You will not want to put it down it's just that good
You will not want to put it down it's just that good
February 22, 2014
Reading the Beauty of a Man and Woman was one of those rare, earthy experiences that you'll look back on and wonder how it all happened. I will preface this review by saying I read this first volume and the next eleven volumes directly after, in approximately 18 days, because I had absolutely no choice in the matter. In fact all those days after I hobbled my way through many sleepless nights just to get to the next "episode" made it completely impossible for me to coherently review every book on its own merits.
I can tell you that some characters, some books, some storylines, and some subplots were better written and more interesting than others but I found I couldn't stop reading them all long enough to process...truly. One after the other I read each of the books in the series like they were crack. Then I'd laugh, cry, get turned on, and turned off but, only a little, because almost every one of these wild, zany, perplexing, inappropriate, complex, and highly entertaining characters often had me hooked the moment they said hello.
The one thing that bothered me were the many times I felt like the race of characters was being caricaturize but honestly I got over it by the fourth book and can even see how in ways it added to my enjoyment of some plotlines.
Despite my own ridiculous intellectual insecurities about reading books that go down like baby food -- the BOMAW series (as it's called by those in the know) is truly a masterpiece of addictive soap operatic story telling, and the fact that it is a story that is also overrun with IR relationships and approximately 20 or 30 protagonists (a slight exaggeration) makes it far ahead of its time in this reader's humble opinion. Mercedes Keyes should be so proud of this body of work because while it may not be for everybody it is unique, special, and worthy of every accolade we can send it's way.
I can tell you that some characters, some books, some storylines, and some subplots were better written and more interesting than others but I found I couldn't stop reading them all long enough to process...truly. One after the other I read each of the books in the series like they were crack. Then I'd laugh, cry, get turned on, and turned off but, only a little, because almost every one of these wild, zany, perplexing, inappropriate, complex, and highly entertaining characters often had me hooked the moment they said hello.
The one thing that bothered me were the many times I felt like the race of characters was being caricaturize but honestly I got over it by the fourth book and can even see how in ways it added to my enjoyment of some plotlines.
Despite my own ridiculous intellectual insecurities about reading books that go down like baby food -- the BOMAW series (as it's called by those in the know) is truly a masterpiece of addictive soap operatic story telling, and the fact that it is a story that is also overrun with IR relationships and approximately 20 or 30 protagonists (a slight exaggeration) makes it far ahead of its time in this reader's humble opinion. Mercedes Keyes should be so proud of this body of work because while it may not be for everybody it is unique, special, and worthy of every accolade we can send it's way.
September 16, 2012
I just finished this book and I am looking forward to the next book in this soap . This book is truly a soap opera, it starts out calm sexy and funny but the drama begins and it does not stop . I love it , Shawn is a sexy beast and he definitely heats up the pages . He has women after him every where. Sylvia wanted a quiet life with no men in it , but she met Shawn and could not resist him, her quiet life changes to a dramatic one I hope she makes it through because I really like her and Shawn together but you have to keep reading to find out. I love what I read so far on so I am to book 2.
December 4, 2013
I love this series so far can't wait to read the rest of this series.
December 22, 2014
Love Love Love. Took some getting use to considering the age of the main characters (for me). Other than that , the story line, the flow and the length of the series makes it worth while. Its hilarious too.
December 4, 2013
A must read. Laugh out loud funny in parts. Flawed characters who make good. Some editing issues in parts, but it doesn't take away too much from the story.
Read
March 31, 2013I have read all in this series and i am waiting on the next one. These two authors really bring the realism, the funny, the sexy and the story.
April 23, 2014
What a ride--- loved it!
September 21, 2017
I loved it
It was like I was right there and part of the family.... can't wait to see what is going to happen next.
It was like I was right there and part of the family.... can't wait to see what is going to happen next.
May 8, 2024
loved it characters well developed family bod
A Terrie story loved the bats chasing the heroine. I am a huge fan of Mercedes Keyes story did not disappoint thank you
A Terrie story loved the bats chasing the heroine. I am a huge fan of Mercedes Keyes story did not disappoint thank you
June 27, 2014
Good book, well written, story flowed really well, My only complain is that Sylvia was a little on neurotic side, one minute she wanted Shawn and the next minute she was telling him to leave her alone, and Shawn just keep coming back to her telling her how much he wanted her and wanted to be with her,but she just keep pushing him away, with that being said ,I am interested as to what is going to happen with these two, so if the authors goal was to hook you and make you want to read the remaining books in the series, she has succeeded.
January 23, 2014
a must read
December 30, 2019
Awesome
My favorite series of all time. This is the series that started off my binge reading. I haven't stopped yet!
My favorite series of all time. This is the series that started off my binge reading. I haven't stopped yet!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews