Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Sassy

Rate this book
National Indie Excellence 2010 Award Winner -- Sassy
National Best Books 2009 Awards Finalist -- Sassy

"This is a fascinating psychological drama...." Harriet Klausner, #1 Amazon Reviewer

"This is a thriller that I couldn't put down...I read it within 24 hours...a must read." --- B. Davis 'crazy about books.'

"This is a definite must read. The twists and turns are so quick you don't see them coming at you."---S. Stiles, Musings of a Book Addict

"Sassy is a great whodunit! Gloria Mallette. . .just may have a winner in the suspense/thriller genre for Sassy! Check it out 'cause it's a great read!----G.A. Bixler, Book Reader's Heaven.

"The threat of constant danger and gripping suspense kept me on the edge of my seat."--- Sharon Lewis, RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

"Gloria Mallette has succeeded in writing a book so captivating this reader didn't want to put it down." --- Denise's Book Blog


A successful romance novelist, Sassy is a woman looking to fulfill her own fantasy. When the man of her dreams step right out of the pages of her latest novel, Butterfly, Sassy falls madly in love with him. But what evil lies behind Norris Yoshito's beautiful eyes and sexy smile? And while Sassy has to take care of her favorite cousin, Bernard, who is dying of AIDS, is the man of Sassy's dream a serial killer of women who made the mistake of trusting him just as Sassy did, or is Norris Yoshito himself in danger from someone who wants him dead? Is Sassy's marriage a horrible mistake that will lead to her own death? You'll find out and you will be stunned. Mystery, suspense, and a touch of romance.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 16, 2008

5 people are currently reading
96 people want to read

About the author

Gloria Mallette

14 books121 followers
(SEE VIDEO below)

2007 was a wonderful year for me. Although I have been published by major mainstream publishers, this year I chose to return to the self-publishing arena (Living, Breathing Lies) in order to continue to write the stories I like to write. I am so appreciative of those readers who have continued to read my books despite who my publisher is. I always say, "Never let anyone tell you that you can't; show them that you can." I am about staying on the literary path I asked God to set my feet upon. I hope you, as well, are going about fulfilling your dreams and letting no one bound your mind, soul, or hands.

Also this year, my latest book, Living, Breathing Lies placed as a WINNER in the USA Book News National Best Books Award for 2007 in African American Fiction (USABookNews.com). Do I count this as a blessing? You bet I do.

Currently, I am working on my 10th title, SASSY, due out June 2008.

Please visit me on my website, and please check out my video for Living, Breathing Lies on Goodreads or Youtube.com.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
33 (47%)
4 stars
23 (33%)
3 stars
12 (17%)
2 stars
1 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Carole.
329 reviews21 followers
February 28, 2016
The Prologue is spoken by Myra Barrett, who is lying on the floor of her apartment, and in terrible pain due to the many stab wounds inflicted by her boss, Norris Yoshito, who she has been dating in secrecy. As she is lying there wondering why he's tried to murder her and hoping that someone will help her, her room-mate is lying dead near her.

So, from the beginning of the story we know who did it ............. or do we?

In the next chapter and from then on the story is told in the 3rd person and we meet Sassy, a popular romantic novelist, who is busy signing copies of her new book. She looks up and meets the eyes of Norris Yoshito and Sassy believes she has met the man of her dreams. After meeting for a drink, they start dating and gradually fall in love. Can this wonderful, charming, polite man really be the same person who stabbed Myra?

This sets the premise for the rest of the novel. The suspense was maintained throughout as we discover that other people who knew Norris are murdered, and when the police started closing in the last quarter of the book was incredibly gripping.

But I felt that it did slow down a little in the middle due to a long conversation in the bedroom of Sassy's cousin, Bernard who was dying of AIDS; it just dragged on and on and on, which drove me mad.

However, I do think this is a decent crime thriller. The character of Sassy was very likeable and the other people in her life seemed real enough for me to care about what happened to them.
77 reviews2 followers
March 25, 2024
Dramatic and psychotic

Sassy was a good read. I couldn't put it down until I finished. I'm glad I read this book after having it my Kindle library for 9 years. I've read other books by Gloria Mallette and I'm never disappointed.
Profile Image for Sandra Stiles.
Author 1 book81 followers
June 28, 2009
Romance and Thriller Rolled Into One
Sassy Davenport is a successful romance novelist who lives her romantic fantasies through the books she writes. While conducting a book signing her world is turned upside down when Norris Yoshito walks up with a bag of books for her to sign. Not only is he good looking, but he is polite and mannerly. Sassy agrees to deliever the signed books to him in the restaurant across the street. Predictably they start seeing each other. We know this is how most romance novels go. This book is different. The prologue starts off with Norris' assistant being brutally murdered. She can't understand while she is slowly dying, why Norris, whom she has secretly been dating, is the one killing her. At this point I began to wonder why the author would give up the killer before chapter one had begun unless she wanted to terrify the reader with gruesome details of other murders that would culminate in the killers capture. I was so glad that I was so off base.

Sassy and Norris develop a relationship whereby they fall in love. To add to this new confusion, Sassy's cousin is dying of aids and want nothing to do with his son or the mother of his son who happens to be one of Sassy's friends. Once again in steps the charming Norris to bring everyone together.
Sassy has become confused by his Jekyll and Hyde personality. It scares her to see his dark side. Norris convinces her it was not him but someone who looked like him.
From this point on things get bizare. More people associated with Norris are murdered and Sassy wants to defend him from the cop who is bent on sending him to jail. His refusal to tell what he knows to the cops has her scared and confused. If he were innocent he would surely defend himself and yet there is no way he would have killed those people. When Sassy finds herself the next victim of the killer all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

This is a definate must read. The twists and turns are so quick you don't see them coming at you. It kept me on my toes the entire time. About the time I thought that I had it figured out something else was thrown into my path.

I guess it would be important to say at this point that I don't usually read romance novels. I don't like all of the mushy, fluffy stuff. I will definately check out more of Gloria Mallette's books. I also have a list of friends I know will love this book. It will definately be recommended.

Sassy by Gloria Mallette
312 pages
Gemini Press

Romance, Thriller, murder, illness, family
Profile Image for Kelly Moran.
Author 50 books1,325 followers
July 6, 2009
Author Gloria Mallette is the winner of the 2007 Best Books Awards and the 2008 Indie Excellence Awards. Other titles include: Living, Breathing Lies, Weeping Willows Dance, Shades of Jade, Promises to Keep, The Honey Well, Distant Lover, What’s Done in the Dark, If There Be Pain, and When We Practice to Deceive. She resides in PA with her husband and son.
Popular romance novelist, Sassy Davenport, thinks she has finally met the man of her dreams. While doing a book signing architect, Norris Yoshito, walks in and captures her attention. Appearing to be a man of great compassion, Norris even assists with her cousin who is dying of AIDS. But with the good comes another side, a darker side, one that could be a violent killer. Key people associated with Norris are brutally murdered, throwing Sassy into a tailspin of uncertainty and doubt. While New York City detectives are on the hunt for a madman, fear and danger grips Sassy while she’s plunged into a world of danger, the real world, where romance doesn’t exist and murder comes knocking.
I’m going to encourage any readers of this book to get past chapter three and keep reading. From page one, you think you know who the killer is, which left me very disappointed and thinking this book had a fatal flaw. I don’t want to issue a spoiler alert, so just trust me when I say that’s not the case. Listed as a romantic suspense, I found this to be more of a murder mystery with romantic elements.
The writing style throughout the book seemed lack-luster to me and the dialog was often tiresome and unnecessary. Because of this, there were a few places where the storyline dragged and interest was lost. There were several grammatical errors in the way of unused commas and periods of improper English, causing me to have to reread a sentence several times to understand the concept. In honesty, I think I have the advanced reading copy, so this may be corrected before publication.
In saying that, I found this to be a great plot and/or premise for a book of this genre, as it hasn’t been overdone. Ms. Mallette appears to have a great understanding of the characteristics and personalities that make us human. The setting, careers, and illness throughout the book were obviously well researched and without flaws. The climactic elements of suspense were well-written and engaging. I’m giving this three out of five stars and would recommend for mystery/suspense fans.

Kelly Moran,
Author and Reviewer
Profile Image for Sarah Sammis.
7,973 reviews247 followers
January 17, 2010
Sassy by Gloria Mallette is a mystery-thriller with some romance thrown in. The main character is a successful author and she's about to have a new man in her life. He though brings danger.

At a book signing for her latest romance, Butterfly, Sassy is surprised to see a well dressed man in line with a stack of her novels. He claims to be a fan of her writing and that's how their friendship starts and later blossoms into something more. Meanwhile, the police are investigating a brutal murder and the evidence is pointing towards Sassy's new beau, Norris Yoshito.

Fictional authors pulled into dangerous and thrilling situations are nothing new. The literary world are full of authors forced to solve mysteries or suddenly in danger from something right out their imaginations. Sassy fits right in with them. She's intelligent, sharp witted and capable of taking care of herself. Although she does encounter danger she's never a "damsel in distress."

Meanwhile Norris has an interesting back story as a the child of a Japanese woman and a black U.S. service man. The cultural conflicts he grew up with in Japan and now faces back in the United States make him an interesting and well rounded character.

The mystery itself has enough tricks in the form of red herrings and other forms of misdirection to hint at possible, albeit clichéd endings to provide a satisfying solution.

Near the end of the novel the editing falls apart a little. There were a couple obvious and strange grammatical errors that should have been caught. These yanked me out of the story just as things were wrapping up. That being said, I will read another Gloria Mallette novel if I come across it.
Profile Image for Donura.
147 reviews10 followers
July 23, 2009
RATING: 4.5 out of 5


Sisters one and all, if you are in need of a new book, rush out and get Sassy by Gloria Mallette. If you are not near a bookstore, click on the Amazon.com link to the right, and order your copy to be delivered directly to your door right away. You won’t be sorry. Ms. Mallette certainly has herself a winner with this book. Sassy is a romance, mystery, and suspense all rolled into one.

When I started the book, I was so into hating Norris that it was difficult for me to get beyond him. But, I hung in there, and I am so glad that I did. There are several characters to love and embrace and enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. And of course, as is always important with a mystery, she keeps you guessing, (I was incorrect about three or four times) right up until the end of the book.

For a sneak peek of the details of the book, watch the promo video from YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSV0Ab...

If you are hooked, visit Gloria’s website www.gloriamallette.com to see a complete list of all of her other books. This is an author that truly deserves the attention. Check back and comment on the book. I would love to hear how others feel.
Profile Image for Gaby.
649 reviews22 followers
September 11, 2009
Synopsis:
The brutal murder of two women in New York City has Detective Keifer looking for a vicious killer.

Sassy Davenport, a successful African American romance novelist is intrigued when gorgeous architect Norris Yoshito comes to her book signing. When Norris asks Sassy on a date, she agrees to meet him. The sudden romance surprises them both with its intensity.

But when Norris's suddenly a suspect in Detective Keifer's murder investigations, Sassy is thrown into doubt.

Norris appears to have two personalities. The kind and generous man who Sassy is falling in love with. And the violent man that suddenly appears on her doorstep - jealous and angry. Sassy has to figure out which is his true face at great risk to herself.

Review:

Smart, caring, and successful African American romance novelist, it's easy to root for Sassy Davenport. The mystery of Norris Yoshito is carefully crafted successfully heightens the tension in the book. One of book's strengths is that Gloria Mallette's characters come from different cultural backgrounds and are authentically painted. It's not often that the romantic leads are people of color. But the best part is the writing! As a fast paced thriller full of twists and turns, Sassy is an enjoyable escape.
Profile Image for OOSA .
1,802 reviews237 followers
November 22, 2009
The Devil Incarnate

Bestselling romance novelist Sassy Davenport has found the man of her dreams. Norris is like any of the leading male characters that she creates in her books. He's handsome, charming, kind and rich. But, he seems to have a split personality, one good and the other evil - a modern day Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. As people in Norris' life are brutally murdered, the common denominator is Norris. He quickly becomes the main suspect. Is Sassy in love with a mad man. More importantly, is her own life in danger?

I haven't read a book by Gloria Mallette that I didn't like. As a versatile writer, she has taken her newest endeavor in yet another direction dealing with murder, love, family and AIDS. Unfortunately, there were some editing issues. That said, like her other novels, "Sassy" makes for good reading.

Reviewed by: Toni
Profile Image for Nancy.
494 reviews13 followers
August 4, 2009
WOW! That is what comes to mind right now. I just finished reading "Sassy" by Gloria Mallette and I am really impressed. This book has it all: love, death, murder, a great mystery with an even greater ending.

Sassy Davenport, well read author, meets Norris Yoshito, architect, gorgeous, well read and hunted by someone who wants to make his life a living hell. They go to dinner, visit, and grow exceedingly fond of each other.

Then the stalker begins hunting Sassy as well and that doesn't even countin the myriad bodies - all with a close connection to Norris. Has Sassy made the mistake of her life? Is Norris the killer the police feel he is? You have got to read this book! It's a one nighter!!
Profile Image for Eclectic Review.
1,692 reviews5 followers
July 13, 2010
This book starts out with a terrifying moment of a woman getting stabbed by a cold blooded mad man named Norris. The suspense continues to build when we see Norris with a completely different personality. Is he mad or isn’t he? Sassy thinks he is the one, but events start to happen which cause her to doubt herself. Sassy has enough on her plate trying to write her next novel and dealing with her brother’s illness, but Norris seems so caring and genuine…

You will be hooked from the first terrifying chapter to the final confrontation. I loved the characters and the plot, but I thought the author could have come up with a more catchy name. I don’t feel it was about Sassy in its entirety.

Thank you to Ms. Mallette and her publicist for sharing her book with me to review.
Profile Image for Sharon.
46 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2009
When romance novelist, Sassy Davenport meets Norris Yoshito, a man she writes about in her castle in the sky romances, they fall head over heels for each other. But when a series of gruesome murders invade their relationship will Sassy's mind be filled with doubt and skepticism.

Sassy is an intense, gripping novel of suspense and unbridled love.
Profile Image for Brenda.
34 reviews
November 15, 2011
This was a very intense read. I was sold hook line and sinker. Gloria Mallette is an incredible author. SASSY was an intriguing story of romance, mystery and suspense all rolled up in one. My attention was captured from the first words.
20 reviews
June 2, 2011
This was a little slow and very predictable. I also took issue with the editing which was terrible. I was a little disappointed not the normal exciting Gloria Mallette read.
101 reviews
January 5, 2013
One of my favorite authors. I've enjoyed all of her books so far!
Profile Image for Soni❤.
249 reviews4 followers
February 3, 2015
This is why she has been my favorite author since I was 12.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.