First let me say that the last 1 1/2 pages of the book really shocked me . . . and i'm not sure if it was in a good or bad way.
Having said that, I also have to say that Ashley and Jaquavis really put it down! This is definitely one of the best sequels I've seen in long time, and I'm thrilled that Cartel is actually being turned into a series!

Cartel 2 finally gives us the background on Miramor, the dark heroine of the first book. We all kno that Miramor is a member of the Murder Mamas, and now we kno how and why she became an assasin, and how the Murder Mamas started.

Thanks to the this book, Miramor becomes an even more sympathetic character, as we learn about her childhood, and understand fully the bond between her and her sister, Anisa. And the bittersweet romance between Zyir and Breeze becomes even more bittersweet!

And for those who loved Carter, well . . . let me say that a nu male character has been introduced in this book that we females are also going to fall in love with. And older characters step up their game even more.

Ashley and Jaquavis do an EXCELLENT job of giving us extensive background on the charaters, but at the same time moving the story forward. It's wonderful when a writer can give character development without it getting in the way of the plot, and Ashley and Jaquavis are indeed masters.

I also like the fact that they incorporated different locales in this book. . . New York, Miami, Jamaica. It makes it easy for readers from different parts of the country to easily relate to what's going on.

Have I alreay said I can't wait for Cartel 3? My only disappointment is I'll have to wait so long. It's not due to come out until June.

AAAAgh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Review written by Shay

I loved True to the Game, but can't say that I loved most of Teri's other books, but I always kept reading in hopes of another urban classic. Alibi is not it.
Alibi tells the story of Daisy Fothergill, a poorly paid stripper who is trying to support her mother, but always seems to fall short. When her sometime boyfriend, offers her cash to supply an alibi for a murder suspect, Daisy jumps at the chance to make a quick couple of grands.

But the lie she tells on the murder suspects behalf quickly becomes a series of lies that need to be told, and bodies start multiplying with each new lie.

Alibi is a quick read, but even with all the drama Ms. Wood supplies, the story just never becomes interesting. And some of the things in the story just don't make sense. For instance, there's more than 10 pages used to give back story on Daisy's mother that just weren't needed, and slowed down the story dreadfully. And then when Daisy makes a trip to Mursfreesboro Ms. Woods portrays the town as a backwards place caught in some kind of time warp. I've been to Mursfreesboro, it's a small town, but no where near as backwards as its portrayed in this book.

And the writing in the book was below average. I would rate this book 2 1/2 stars out of five.

Review by Cynthia Robinson of Real Urban Fans

Raw tells the story of Chastity Jones, a street-smart 19-year-old young woman from Harlem whose father killed her mother when she was 16. After being sexually assaulted while in foster care (and boy, is the rape told in vivid detail!) she runs away and becomes a stripper in a men's club. It's there that she meets Legend Foster. He's a mysterious and gorgeous man who makes a mint by hosting parties for ballers and athletes in his Harlem brownstone. His parties are so famous, that people are willing to pay hundreds and thousands just to get into the VIP section. And let me tell you, some of the things that goes on in those parties will have you panting, sweating, and embarrassed to keep reading, but unable to stop reading!
Legend takes Chastity under his wing, and teaches her all the tricks to get men to spend big time money on her, and soon she's the toast of the town. But she's also fallen in love with Legend. But while she thinks he MIGHT be interested in her, he never makes a play.
Then she meets his cousin, Hunter. Sparks fly immediately, especially after he takes her shopping at Tiffany's and Winston's, and flies her to places like the Bahamas just to do more shopping.
But when Legend finds out that Chastity and Hunter has become an item he has a fit.
No, this is not like some of the urban erotica books where the main female character is beat up by the man (or men) in her life (come on, what's sexy about that?); I've read way too many of those books, as it is. This is a book about sex, love, lust, and money . . . and a woman who decides she wants it all -- and gets it all. The only question is, can she come out on top.
I cannot believe that this a debut book, and I really found it incredible when I heard that the author was only 21.
Raw is an incredible book. Incredibly written

4 1/2 stars out of five

Review written by Cynthia Robinson of Real Urban Fans

Picking up from Thug Matrimony, Wahida Clark escorts us into the personal lives of Angel and Kaylin's friends -- Tasha, and her husband, Trae.

After beating a huge drug case that would have landed partners Trae and Kaylin in jail for many years, Trae moves his pregnant wife, Tasha, to the West Coast to retire from the game and settle into a peaceful new life. Things don’t go exactly as planned. An urgent phone call brings Trae and Tasha back to New York, confirming Tasha's greatest fears about her husband's old connections.

The couple's ride-or-die love may have been strong enough to remove them from the East Coast, but can it keep Trae from sinking into a deep hole of deception as he tries to cover his tracks from a vengeance murder?

I loved Thug Lovin' because Wahida did shake it up, when Trae got to California. His whole personality changed, all of a sudden his family wasn't his number one priority -- being a mover and shaker was. Now its going to be interesting to see where Wahida takes us next. This book could go in so many directions, the possibilities are exciting.

Will Thug Lovin' sustain them through the drama? Wahida jumps right into the action, reintroducing fans and newbies to the criss-crossed relationships of Angel, Kyra, Jaz, and Tasha. With well-written flashback scenes, nicely interwoven with the present-day drama, this novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats. This is the fourth entry in Clark's popular "Thug" series.

I would rate this book 5 stars out of 5

Review written by Anna Draper
For Real Urban Fans