Travis Hunter

A Hard Knock Life

Zola Zaire has had a hard life. After being raped at 14 by her mother's boyfriend, Zola's self-esteem causes her to do things with men for money. When she meets an older man, she feels she may be set for life. Then she gets pregnant and has no support from the baby's father. Zola moves on and moves up, after placing her child in foster care. However, her past comes back to haunt her as she searches for clues about the mysterious beating she received at the hands of her new, show more sophisticated man.

Ian DeMarco has also had a challenging life. Money is not an issue. However, the deaths of a few close family members cause Ian to remove himself from the man he blames for their deaths -- his father. Zola and Ian's lives intersect on the corner of "Damsel in Distress" and "The Great Defender." Soon they find themselves as prey in a dangerous game of revenge.

Hunter's novel, “Momma’s a Virgin,” is a combination of mystery and urban romance. The basic story is pretty enjoyable. However, I found myself distracted by detailed information about minor characters that did not have a real impact on the plot. The main characters were a bit superficial for my taste, but I was still able to gather sympathy for their plight. The reason for the title of the novel is revealed at the very end and personally I didn't buy it. It seemed like the author knew he had to explain the meaning behind the title and forgot to do so until the last page of the novel. Also, this was an ARC so there were a few editing issues.

All in all, this is a decent read. I found myself more intrigued with the mystery plot than with the characters. That is what kept me reading because I wanted to know who was responsible for all the mayhem in Zola and Ian's lives.

Reviewed by: Flashette
3.5 stars show less

Disclaimer: I was chosen to receive a copy of this book by the librarything’s early reviewers program. This book was in the December 2010 batch, and as of the date of this review I have not received this book. I did request a copy of this story though my library’s Inter Library Loan (ILL) office, and I thank The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for sending it.

Franky has gone though so much in his short life, he is an orphan, he is a Hurricane Katrina survivor, and he is living with his show more well meaning but “derelict” cousins in harsh conditions. After the storm, and his move to Atlanta, Franky did not return to school for three years. Thankfully Franky decides it is time to return to school, and on his first day back he meets Khadija. Khadija and Franky immediately hit it off, and a romance begins. Throughout the story Franky has to make the difficult choices so often made in an impoverished urban setting, but he faces a major choice when it comes to dealing with a person that caused harm to his beloved Khadija.

This story needs an editor. Story lines are out of order, chapter 9 starts off with a repeated sentence, and some passages are awkward and difficult to follow. These mistakes severely corrode the quality of this story, and make it difficult for me to recommend this book. The important message trying to find its way to the reader is a redeeming quality, but the distractions take away from this message and make this book one that can be passed over. show less

Narrated by Ezra Knight. Genesis is engaged to Terry but still dallies with other women. Only after he is busted for soliciting a prostitute on the night of his bachelor party does he rethink his priorities. But it's Terri's wedding day bombshell that flings him into a year of celibacy and serious contemplation. Soap box material.

this is a story of determination and a willingness to change before life changes you. The character frankie, has been dealt some harsh realities . He lost his family in Katrina and was left to grow up fst with two older cousins. They were all he had ,but Frankie was determined to change and not be a part of the problem but become the solution to the problem