| ARC'S REVIEWERS STAGE |
| ARC Book Club Inc. |
| REAL LYFE. Mr. Gray does what he does best and that's tell a great story. A story of real life, no sugar coating. The struggles of life come to reality on these pages and jump out like a screen play before your eyes. I have been a supporter of this author for years. His books always seem to get me in trouble; they appeal to everyone and folks pick his books up and just start reading. If you familiar with his work, you know it's read at your own risk. Lyfe Benjamin is twenty two when we meet him and life has run a string of bad luck. Being raised in the hood his mother tries to keep him from being of the hood, but we all know that is not always possible. So as the saying goes a hard a** make for a soft behind. So we get to follow Lyfe through all his trials and tribulations and see if he can come out on top. Put your 4D glasses on and get ready, because you will feel everything. The plot thickens the more you flip the pages and flipping to get to the end you will do. If you have never read anything by Erick S Gray this is as good as any to get acquainted with him. He deals with real life situations and consequences, while keeping the street edge. I highly recommend this novel to those who love street lit and to those who want to give street lit a try. This as real as the streets get. As always, I await his next novel. SiStar Tea Star Rating: 5.0***** |
| ©2012 ARC Book Club Inc. |

| SHADES OF JADE. Meet Jadelyn, a successful art gallery owner who is at the height of her career. A single child to wealthy parents, Jadelyn never wanted for a thing growing up. Her life is a model one until, to the shock of her friends and family, she is unexpectedly charged with murder and detained at a maximum security asylum. Being trapped in the institution surrounded by all white is a daily horror, but come nighttime, Jade is plagued with nightmares of a 12 year old girl whose childhood experiences are a sharp contrast to that of her own. Sexual abuse, poverty, and drug use are standard in the life of the mystery girl, and Jade cannot escape the visions that haunt her after dark. Enter Dr. Deruth, a skilled psychologist determined to understand and effectively diagnose Jade's condition. When Dr. Deruth's research wields shocking information, Jade and her family are forced to deal with hidden secrets that have ultimately cost Jade her sanity. Take a ride with Envy Red as she takes you through the tortured mind of Jade, and the journey to addressing her mental illness. This is a book I would recommend to a variety of audiences, however urban readers who are seeking a reprieve from baby momma drama and hustlers will find this read especially enjoyable. Social issues in general need to be spoken about more in the AA reading circuit. Kudos to Envy Red for touching on a subject such as this that is not often addressed in urban fiction. Englishruler Star Rating: 4.0**** |
| Releasing Those Demons. Author and educator K.L. Belvin has opened the doors to his life and hung his ugly laundry out for all to see. Being frank is an understatement here, he is honest and straight forward about his past destructive, addictive, and abusive behavior. No K.L. didn't harm anyone physically, but using persons for your own self pleasure without caring about how the other feels, fits neatly under the abusive category and leaves it's own special scars for all parties involved. Women looking for love in all the wrong places, many with low self esteem make it so easy for a predator, inviting many issues such as un-wanted pregnancies and STDs. Once you enter into this author's world you will read of his transition, of his need and willingness in wanting to change. A higher power made interventions but his blessing were still being blocked by his behavior, which he had perfected over many years was hard to leave behind. From a young boy who was never taught how to behave in a relationship, to a grown man whose addiction ended up causing pain to those who loved him, to a spiritual man and educator who has taken his own painful journey and shared with us in hopes that others will learn. This is a must read journey! This is such an inspirational read! The part in this book that spoke so loudly to me is when K.L. realized that a higher power was speaking to him through different people and events and he KNEW... but yet his addictive personality won over instead of doing the right thing. I think everyone has an "epiphany" at some point during our lifetime but most of us choose to ignore it. Tiffany is K.L.'s wife who he speaks highly of...well, I won't spoil it for the readers but I am going to say that she is a very SPECIAL kind of woman! My recommendation to K.L. is to fine tune this read by going over the editing process as it so deserves a five star rating! Recommended Reading! Locksie Star Rating: 4.0**** |



