Female Trouble: Stories

Book Description

Female Trouble features thirteen wise, funny, and startlingly perceptive stories about the vagaries and revelations of womanhood. Named by The New Yorker as one of the twenty best writers of her generation, Antonya Nelson explores the broad notion of family from myriad angles in Female Trouble. Set in the vividly rendered Midwest, these moving stories are dark and honest portraits of people in moral quandaries, gray areas, unclear circumstances -- from the three-timing thirty-year-old man of the title story to the divorced mother of a turbulent teen in "Incognito" to the sexually adventurous daughter of an adulterous mother in "Stitches." With Female Trouble, Nelson has created a cast of memorable characters who reveal us to ourselves with disturbing clarity and conscience.

Download Description

"Antonya Nelson is widely regarded as one of America's most talented women writers -- The New Yorker has named her one of the twenty best writers of her generation -- and with Female Trouble she returns to the short-story form with which she made her original literary mark. Thirteen wise, funny, and startlingly perceptive stories about the vagaries of marriage, the uncertainties of family, and the revelations of female life, Female Trouble looks at the relationships not just between men and women but also between parents and children, brothers and sisters. Probing the subjects of love, fidelity, desire, dependence, and solitude, Nelson explores the broad notion of family from myriad angles, but always with surprising insight and her trademark offbeat humor. The title story features a thirty-year-old man carrying on intimate relationships with three different women -- one institutionalized, one pregnant, one purely maternal -- but unable to commit to any of them. ""Incognito"" depicts a divorced woman whose turbulent teen years are suddenly brought back to her when she returns to her hometown with her own teenage daughter. In "The Unified Front," a husband reckons with his wife's decision to steal a baby while at a famous theme park, and in "Stitches," a disturbing late-night phone call forces a mother to confront her college-age daughter's sexuality and her own adulterous past. Set in the vividly rendered Southwest and Midwest, these moving stories are dark and honest portraits of people in moral quandaries, gray areas, unclear circumstances -- stories that reveal us to ourselves with disturbing clarity. As always, Nelson astounds with the clean, terse power of her language, and she deftly uses humor to expose the soft underbellies of her tough-talking, unblinking characters. These are stories that will linger in the reader's mind long after they are read.

Customer Reviews:

Rebel Rebel.......2005-08-11

Antonya Nelson's stock in trade is her laser-like understanding of and her affinity for the foibles and miss-steps of we mortal human beings. Anyone familiar with her "Nobody's Girl" or in particular "Living to Tell" can attest to that.
In "Female Trouble" she sets her sights on a close to her heart, I would assume subject, women: Professional women, divorced women, suicidal women, mother-earth women, young women and old women, pregnant women and the men who are fortunate enough to cross their paths.
"Female Trouble" is a short story collection. The Short Story is probably the most difficult prose form for an author to master:a short story should be all of a piece. You should not crave for more. The author has to quickly create a world, inhabit it with interesting characters and resolve the story so that the reader is satisfied at it's resolution.
The first story of this collection, "Incognito" is very well written and the premise is unique: a close group of three high school friends create an imaginary person, one Dawn Wrigley and use this persona as a means to act out all of their adolescent fantasies. The problem is at this story's end I craved for more, wanted loose ends tied, needed more information, felt cheated.
On the other hand in "One Dog is People," Nelson creates a world in which the basic premise of the story is tied up in a logical fashion with no lose ends hanging. This story also includes some of her most incisive writing: "A few days later I was sitting in traffic after dropping the children off at school. I relied on their disappearance every day; I could not stand such thorough neediness. And yet, as soon as they'd been swept into their buildings...I missed them. I fell under the heavy weight of guilt: how could I not be grateful? How could I not cling to what was left to me, cling and cherish?"
"Stitches" is in part about the relationship between a college-age girl (Tracy) and her mother (Ellen): "It was unnerving to be this girl's mother. She was so forthcoming. So frankly healthy...how had she gotten this way? Ellen felt somehow excluded from the process. She (Ellen) kept secrets---not in drawers or closets or diaries, but in her heart, behind her eyes, on her lips. Tracy's admirable openness seemed not to have been inherited from Ellen, so it must have come from her father."
As with most story collections, the quality here is variable. But what does not vary is Nelson's obvious love for her characters and her unflinching desire to get at the heart of things through the use of her gorgeous, even voluptuous writing style.

Profound women's anthology!.......2003-10-30

Female Trouble is one of the most profound women's anthologies I've ever read. This collection of short stories has dark and profound subject matters. There are stories of infidelity, failed marriages, mother/daughter relationships and women's sexual prowess. Antonya Nelson is a rather talented writer with an obvious penchant for revealing women's emotions. The female protagonists are of various ages and economic backgrounds. There is something for every woman here. I can't recommend this wonderful book enough! Brava, Ms. Nelson, for revealing some rather profound truths with such unflinching honesty.

fantastic.......2003-10-03

Nelson's perception and clarity in writing of complex, difficult issues is an amazing talent. Her prose are smart, witty, and feel deeply connected to each and every character. Nelson's writing is so in touch with language and emotion that the reader is transplanted into the world of the characters. A fantastic collection that cannot be put down until the end is reached.

impressive.......2003-06-28

I pulled this book up on Amazon to order it for a friend and I couldn't believe no one had reviewed it. I bought it in hardback when it first came out and was so impressed with the stories that I tracked down Ms. Nelson's earlier collections of stories, Land of Men, and The Expendables. I am glad I did as they each contain some gems. Female Trouble, though, is full of gems. They showcase Ms Nelson's talent for finding the fresh way of looking at the moral questions and difficult relationships that are the fodder for much of fiction. And while this is serious stuff, Ms. Nelson handles it with clarity and sensitivity and even humor. The first story is about a woman who returns to her childhood town with her young daughter and while reading the newspaper comes across something that forces her to confront her own troublesome youth. The device that drives this story is so compelling and creative that I was anxious to see i f Ms Nelson could sustain that level of creativity throughout the entire collection. She did. I believe you will find several characters and stories that stay wtih you long after you've put this one on your "A" shelf. ....

Average customer rating:

Horrible Ending!
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Very enjoyable!
Very Enjoyable!!!!!!
"I Enjoyed It"

Nothing But Trouble
Bettye Griffin
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0758207395

Customer Reviews:

Horrible Ending!.......2007-07-15

I loved the book all the way through....but the ending is horrible!!!! Nothing happens! Check this book out from your local library, I wouldn't spend too much money on it. Maybe there will be sequel.

Something Wicked This Way Comes.......2006-12-22

Bettye Griffin's tenth novel, Nothing But Trouble follows three friends faced with adultery, infertility, unwanted pregnancy, death and jealousy.

Dana, Cecile and Norell are three women who struggle to make the most out of their careers, family life and friendship. Dana's world is turned upside down when she finds herself a widow and instant single mother. In an attempt to get back on solid financial footing, she invites Cecile and Norell to join her in starting a transcription business. Norell is a newlywed with a fierce desire to start her own family. Her husband has children from a previous marriage and does not share her enthusiasm causing a rift in their young marriage. Norell's unhappiness is increased when she learns that Cecile is pregnant with yet another child. Cecile and her husband struggle to accommodate their growing family of eight. The unexpected pregnancy brings Cecile added tension to her marriage and her relationship with Norell. To make matters worse, Cecile's self-centered, younger sister Micheline relocates to Jacksonville. She enjoys her new life at the expense of Cecile and her friends.

Bettye Griffin's characters are real people. They are honorable, upstanding women that wrestle with feelings like jealously, envy and fear. They have a vulnerability that resonates with all women struggling to balance family, career and friendship. Griffin goes a bit overboard with details but the picture that she paints is clear and easily imaginable. Book discussion questions are included to stimulate conversation. It is a good choice for bookclubs because it invites plenty of discussion. Nothing But Trouble is a good read for the modern woman.

Reviewed by M.P. McKinney
APOOO BookClub

Very enjoyable!.......2006-10-10

I love her writing, esp. if you happen to be over 30 like me! She always presents a book full of drama, but not smutty .

Very Enjoyable!!!!!!.......2006-08-07

This is my first time reading anything from this author. I truly enjoyed this story. It was almost like reading about people that you are friends with or that you work with, I would like to see what ends up happening to these characters in let's say five years. Norrell, Dana and Cecile were three close friends that met in the work place all three end up taking part in a work at home program but remain close they help each other get through their family problems. And as we all know when you have a family there is always life events that knock you down. The good thing is when you have good real friends like these they can help you to see that it doesn't rain all the time the sun will shine in the morning. I recommend this book for any avid reader.

"I Enjoyed It".......2006-06-08

This was a good book to read. I really enjoyed it. I liked the characters and the storylines as well. This is the second book of Ms. Griffin's that I've read and she didn't disappoint. I was surprised that Norell's hubby Vic,who didn't want anymore children, goes out and gets another woman pregnant, but can't do the same for his wife. I wish I could've seen the look on Vic's face when he found out that it was Cecile's sister he knocked up. Ms. Griffin could've given Irene more problems to inflict on Dana and Gil's relationship, you know what they say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. I also liked how the children in this book address their elders as Mr./Ms. so and so. This was a good book Ms. Griffin, what's next?

Average customer rating:

Real characters, real insight
a collection of odd, interesting stories
Wonderful Stories
Wonderful Stories
Every Woman is a Rebel

Female Trouble: Stories
Antonya Nelson
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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United States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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The EXPENDABLES: STORIES

ASIN: 074321871X

Book Description

"Nelson's prose is precise and energetic, and her insights delight because they manage to be at once surprising and so right as to seem inevitable."

-- The New York Times Book Review

Antonya Nelson is widely regarded as one of America's most talented women writers -- The New Yorker has named her one of the twenty best writers of her generation -- and with Female Trouble she returns to the short-story form with which she made her original literary mark.

Thirteen wise, funny, and startlingly perceptive stories about the vagaries of marriage, the uncertainties of family, and the revelations of female life, Female Trouble looks at the relationships not just between men and women but also between parents and children, brothers and sisters. Probing the subjects of love, fidelity, desire, dependence, and solitude, Nelson explores the broad notion of family from myriad angles, but always with surprising insight and her trademark offbeat humor.

The title story features a thirty-year-old man carrying on intimate relationships with three different women -- one institutionalized, one pregnant, one purely maternal -- but unable to commit to any of them. "Incognito" depicts a divorced woman whose turbulent teen years are suddenly brought back to her when she returns to her hometown with her own teenage daughter. In "The Unified Front," a husband reckons with his wife's decision to steal a baby while at a famous theme park, and in "Stitches," a disturbing late-night phone call forces a mother to confront her college-age daughter's sexuality and her own adulterous past.

Set in the vividly rendered Southwest and Midwest, these moving stories are dark and honest portraits of people in moral quandaries, gray areas, unclear circumstances -- stories that reveal us to ourselves with disturbing clarity. As always, Nelson astounds with the clean, terse power of her language, and she deftly uses humor to expose the soft underbellies of her tough-talking, unblinking characters. These are stories that will linger in the reader's mind long after they are read.

Customer Reviews:

Real characters, real insight.......2007-04-05

I read few short stories anymore, mostly because they all run together in a blur of sameness, with an abrupt ending that is supposed to be mysterious and deep but instead feels obtuse and pointless. But Antonya Nelson's work is different. Her stories suck you in -- things happen. There's also the sheer beauty of the writing and her insight into human behavior -- women, in particular -- which is subtle but powerful, sort of like coming around a corner and smacking into an old friend. You instantly recognize the foibles and habits of her characters, who are real without being boring.

a collection of odd, interesting stories.......2002-12-08

Antonya Nelson's collection of short stories, "Female Trouble", revolves around just that: women who are having trouble, often because of their womanhood or one of its attendant issues. Nelson manages to explore this over-exposed territory with enough insight and originality, and little enough shrill Bridget-Jones-ripoff whining, to make her stories worth reading.

And they're good stories. Nelson does everything a writer of short stories should do. She's skilled at crafting character and plot, her command of language is unwavering, and each story is self-contained, unique, and distinct from the others in the collection.

Still, something is missing. This is a good book, but not a great one. Nelson pulls her punches. Her subtlety and sense of balance - characters who are odd but not crazy, plotlines that are curious but not implausible - is what makes the collection worthwhile, but Nelson doesn't seem to know when to be direct. Her writing is good, but too muted to be powerful, and it's frustrating to read. She has great ideas, well-developed characters, the perfect setup, and then you turn the page and it's over. The stories all end in the proper story-ending way, with a climax and resolution, but there's no bang. Nearly every story left me wishing for just one more paragraph - that perfect event or line of dialogue or turn of phrase - something to push me over the edge from interested to affected, something to make her stories less strange and more profound.

Wonderful Stories.......2002-09-09

These stories are wonderful, very well-written, sharply observed. Nelson has an eye for detail that is so right on, so observant, filled with an underlying snappy wit. All of these stories are very strong and will motivate the reader to explore her novels. Enjoy.

Wonderful Stories.......2002-09-09

Every Woman is a Rebel.......2002-08-16

Antonya Nelson's stock in trade is her laser-like understanding of and her affinity for the foibles and miss-steps of we mortal human beings. Anyone familiar with her "Nobody's Girl" or in particular "Living to Tell" can attest to that.
In "Female Trouble" she sets her sights on a close to her heart, I would assume subject, women: Professional women, divorced women, suicidal women, mother-earth women, young women and old women, pregnant women and the men who are fortunate enough to cross their paths.
"Female Trouble" is a short story collection. And I know I am going to get a lot of grief for this but it is a form of which I am not particularly fond. Ideally, a short story should be all of a piece. You should not crave for more. The author has to quickly create a world, inhabit it with interesting characters and resolve the story so that the reader is satisfied at it's resolution. The first story of this collection, "Incognito" is very well written and the premise is unique: a close group of three high school friends create an imaginary person, one Dawn Wrigley and use this persona as a means to act out all of their adolescent fantasies. The problem is at this story's end I craved for more, wanted loose ends tied, needed more information, felt cheated.
On the other hand in "One Dog is People," Nelson creates a world in which the basic premise of the story is tied up in a logical fashion with no lose ends hanging. This story also includes some of her most incisive writing: "A few days later I was sitting in traffic after dropping the children off at school. I relied on their disappearance every day; I could not stand such thorough neediness. And yet, as soon as they'd been swept into their buildings...I missed them. I fell under the heavy weight of guilt: how could I not be grateful? How could I not cling to what was left to me, cling and cherish?"
"Stitches" is in part about the relationship between a college-age girl (Tracy) and her mother (Ellen): "It was unnerving to be this girl's mother. She was so forthcoming. So frankly healthy...how had she gotten this way? Ellen felt somehow excluded from the process. She (Ellen) kept secrets---not in drawers or closets or diaries, but in her heart, behind her eyes, on her lips. Tracy's admirable openness seemed not to have been inherited from Ellen, so it must have come from her father."
As with most story collections, the quality here is variable. But what does not vary is Nelson's obvious love for her characters and her unflinching desire to get at the heart of things through the use of her gorgeous, even voluptuous writing style.

Average customer rating:

Female Trouble: Stories

Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H2MA7C

Average customer rating:

Great read!
A Keeper, I trouble you not!
A delightful riot! A keeper! Trouble you not!
TROUBLE'S Matchmaking!!

Here Comes Trouble
Kathy Carmichael
Manufacturer: Avalon books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0803496257

Book Description

In the town of Littlemouth, being naughty was never so much fun.

Trouble was never so delightful!

Five incorrigible women are members of a library reader's group, The Readers Organization Uniting Book-loving Littlemouth Elites. Their nickname, TROUBLE, fits them perfectly.

There's no avoiding TROUBLE. They run every volunteer and civic organization in town and feel justified in creating chaos in pursuit of their own amusement.

The ladies now turn their hands to matchmaking. Their first project is centered on homebody Stella Goody, and wanderer Quin Gregory, who were best childhood friends. Now that Quin has returned home after a long absence, can they rebuild their friendship or will it turn into something more lasting--and romantic?

With TROUBLE involved, all's fair in love and Littlemouth!

Customer Reviews:

Great read!.......2007-06-14

Ms. Carmichael has come through again with her amazing ability to entertain her readers and charm the socks off them. With fun, zany characters and a story that will hold anyone's interest, Here Comes Trouble holds a place of honor on my shelf of "keepers."

A Keeper, I trouble you not!.......2004-02-14

I was in the need of a few giggles, so the title intrigued me. And I got more than my money's worth. This is a witty book with enough special touches to keep you turning pages and laughing along with the antics of Trouble. You say what is Trouble? Are they IN trouble? Do they CAUSE Trouble? No, they ARE Trouble...to be more exact...T.R.O.U.B.L.E. - with the periods! The Readers' Organisation Uniting Bookloving Littlemouth Elites - the Littlemouth not being a characteristic, but the town - Littlemouth, Kansas! And they spell trouble for Stella Goody and her old childhood Quin.
See Stella's mum, Prissy, and Quin's mum, Debby, decide it would be great if Stella and Quin got married. Never give a thought they are exact opposites. Quin is a world travelling magazine investigative reporter, while Stella is small town teacher. Oh, yeah, match made in heaven!! But where mothers get their minds set on something, far be it from the children to stand in their way!

The characters are very real, down to earth, touching, and leaving you feeling good all over. I presume - I hope - the ladies of TROUBLE will ride again...and I will be first on pre- order!

Definitely a keeper!

A delightful riot! A keeper! Trouble you not!.......2004-02-14

See Stella's mum, Prissy, and Quin's mum, Debby, decide it would be great if Stella and Quin got married. Never give a thought they are exact opposites. Quin is a world traveling magazine investigative reporter, while Stella is small town teacher. Oh, yeah, match made in heaven!! But where mothers get their minds set on something, far be it from the children to stand in their way!

The characters are very real, down to earth, touching, and leaving you feeling good all over. I presume - I hope - the ladies of TROUBLE will ride again...and I will be first on pre- order!

Definitely a keeper!

TROUBLE'S Matchmaking!!.......2004-01-28

Ms Carmichael has written a wonderful story of the small town of Littlemouth, KS and the group of women who run the town's volunteer and civic organizations and are matchmakers, too. They call themselves TROUBLE -- The Readers' Organization Uniting Bookloving Littlemouth Elites. They have decided that Stella & Quin are going to marry. Stella Goody, who's mother Prissy is one of the 5 ladies of TROUBLE along with Debby, another of the 5 who happens to be Quin's mother, are sure they can get these 2 together. Quin's a magazine investigative reporter and has traveled the world but Stella, a high school biology teacher, is a homebody and doesn't want to leave her wonderful little town. She & Quin were childhood best friends but as they grew older they grew apart. Their 10 year high school reunion is just weeks off and Quin has come home to recuperate from his last death defying story. It's so much fun to read of Quin's discovery of his love for Stella and Stella to bloom from that love and watch the 5 ladies of TROUBLE try their best to push the 2 together. Oh yes for the animal lover in us Quin & Stella rescue the hellhound *Tramp*! I'm hoping there are going to be many more stories of the ladies of TROUBLE. A great feel-good book!

Average customer rating:

(4.5 stars) Friends To The End.
deep look at low esteem troubled people
Misery Amongst Friends
Enough Trouble To Go Around

Trouble Loves Company
Angie Daniels
Manufacturer: Dafina
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0758217455

Book Description

The acclaimed author of In the Company of My Sistahs returns with a sexy, sassy, and moving new novel about three friends who've had their share of life's ups and downs--with no sign that the rollercoaster is going to stop anytime soon...

For romance author Renee Moore, true love only exists in books. Despite a wealthy, adoring husband, Renee is unhappy--and deeply unsatisfied, which explains her bed-hopping habit. But Renee's husband will do anything to keep her, including embarking on an erotic lifestyle that includes swinging, which forces Renee to confront some painful truths about her marriage--and herself.

Practical Nurse Danielle Brooks has always had a thing for young thugs--until her latest, Ron, pushes her too far with his baby mama drama and freeloading ways. Danielle realizes it may be time to rethink her choices in men. But when her troubled teenage daughter ends up pregnant, Danielle's worlds collide as she finds herself torn between a girl who has a habit of crying wolf--and a man who swears he's not the father.

As far as administrative assistant Kayla Johnson is concerned, Reverend Leroy Brown walks on water--despite the fact that he's cheating on his wife--with her. Kayla is convinced the naughty Reverend is going to leave his family for her--until she catches him in bed with another woman. But walking away from Leroy is only the beginning of Kayla's troubles.

As Renee, Danielle and Kayla band together, they discover a world of secrets they never imagined--and learn a lesson about the power of love, truth, and friendship that makes it all worthwhile...

Customer Reviews:

(4.5 stars) Friends To The End........2007-09-07

Have you ever heard the statement; "Friends to the end?" Well for Kayla Johnson, Renee Moore, and Danielle Brooks, that statement is a fact.

For erotic author Renee Moore, love is a fantasy and only exists in the books she writes. She has a husband that worships the ground she walks on and will do whatever it takes to make her happy...even if that means finding other men to fulfill all of her sexual fantasies. Renee will soon have to confront the problems in her marriage and her life. Everything comes crashing down all at once, and it is getting to be too much to deal with. Is she ready to confront those problems or will she just continue to ignore them?

Kayla Johnson is an administrative assistant who dreams of finding a man that will love her unconditionally. She's looking for a man that will not use her for money, sex or a place to lay their head. She thought she had found that in Rev. Leroy Brown. He was everything she needed. He was attentive, sensitive, and very passionate. It's too bad that he had a wife and kids that he was not willing to give up. Kayla soon finds out that her knight in shining armor was nothing more than a dog in a suit. She finally realizes that Rev. Brown was not going to leave his wife for her anytime soon, especially since he was spending "quality time" with more than just her. When she finally decides to leave him and go on with her life, she realizes that the "Good Reverend" has a stronger hold over her than she thought.

Licensed Practical Nurse Danielle Brooks has always liked her men young and thugged out. That's until her latest ruffneck Ron puts her through more drama than she can handle. Unfortunately for her, he's not her only problem. She has a daughter named Portia who has cried wolf one too many times, and her latest dilemma is over the top. Portia becomes pregnant, and guess who she says is her baby daddy? Who will Danielle believe? Will it be the right decision?

Angie Daniels has done it again with Trouble Loves Company. She catches your attention the moment you open the book. Once you start reading it, it'll be hard for you to put it down. Ms. Daniels has done a good job connecting all of the characters and giving just the right amount of detail about each person. If you are someone with a good imagination, then this book is for you. I recommend that when you finish reading Trouble Loves Compamy, call your girl and tell her to read it. There's so many details that you won't stop talking about it for awhile.

Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban Reviews

deep look at low esteem troubled people .......2007-09-04

Although her husband adores her, romance author Renee Moore does not return his affection. Instead she believes that true love only exists in fairy tales or her novels. Her spouse fails to satiate her needs so Renee seeks other lovers, but her mate is willing to go kinky to satisfy Renee.

Practical Nurse Danielle Brooks cherishes young thugs. However her latest lover Ron is too far out for even her; he wants to be her baby while she is his mama. As she reconsiders the men in her life, her teenage daughter becomes pregnant accusing a young hunk as the father; a stud that Danielle desires; he denies he had sex with her daughter.

Administrative assistant Kayla Johnson is having an affair with the man she loves, Reverend Leroy Brown. She expects him to soon leave his wife and children for her. However, she revises her opinion of her beloved when she finds him cheating on her.

Friends Renee, Danielle and Kayla form a sisterhood as they depend on each other to help them through relationship crisis with the opposite sex.

Rotating perspective between each of the lead female trio; this is a deep look at three women whose respective self destructive behavior is deeply rooted from long time internalized demons. Each begins to overcome their detrimental makeup when they meet one another and form a support group. Readers who appreciate this well written tale that at times is difficult to read because realism is often not pretty. Angie Daniels takes the audience inside the heart of low esteem people who bond because troubled souls love miserable self-loathing company; yet finding one another brings self searching and the first flicker of optimism.

Harriet Klausner

Misery Amongst Friends.......2007-08-28

In life everything we do somehow or another ties into something that has happened to us in our past. Almost all the choices we make in our adult life has to do with lessons learned as a child, some may be positive, and others, well you already know. After completing Trouble Loves Company by Angie Daniels, I realize how true this really is. Angie Daniels penned a work of fiction depicting the lives of three friends who would do anything for the other, but when life is always throwing them curve balls, how many of them will land on top?

Renee is a woman people from the outside looking in would say has got it all. No one except for her friends knew that her life had been nothing but trouble. From the abandonment of her drug-addicted mother, and the rejection from her step-father, to the abusive marriage she had with her children's father that led her into her current marriage to John. He is sweet and willing to give her anything that she needs, except for the one thing that Renee really desires, the bedroom skills that she craves and writes about in her erotica novels. When her husband flips the script on her, by introducing her to a new type of love, she is far from okay with this new found territory.

Kayla, a woman insecure about her weight, who never truly felt loved by anyone thought she found it. When she realized that the married Reverend Leroy Brown was never going to leave his wife and had more women than she was aware of, she had to summon all her faith to cut off whatever ties she had with him. But for Reverend Brown she belonged to him and he would make sure she knew it, even if it cost a hefty price.

Attracted to young thugs, Danielle has to deal with her daughter, Portia, constantly making up stories to get her attention. Since Portia is always crying wolf, Danielle just never knew when to believe her and when to tell her to stop telling stories. Then the unmentionable happened and Danielle finds herself questioning if Portia was telling the truth or was it just another cry for attention. Can mother and daughter ever really have a good relationship or will Portia finally cause her mother to turn her back on her?

Trouble Loves Company is filled with a lot of drama. There is a bit of mystery in the storyline keeping the readers wanting to know what will happen next. This book does need a little more work, even though I had the uncorrected proof, there should not have been the issues with the two different voices. Renee's chapters were written in first person, while Kayla and Danielle's chapters were written in third. With proper editing this book will definitely be a better read. Looking past that error, I would still recommend this book.

Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub

Enough Trouble To Go Around.......2007-08-04

TROUBLE LOVES COMPANY picks up where In the Company of My Sistahs leaves off, providing an intimate look into the lives of main characters Renee, Danielle and Kayla. Renee is married to a man she doesn't love for financial security and she is miserable because he's horrible in bed and hard on the eyes. Danielle is struggling to raise a fifteen-year-old daughter who is both promiscuous and a habitual liar, while she tries to keep from being driven crazy by the antics of her boyfriend. And Kayla is involved with a married preacher who also turns out to be physically abusive. In no time at all, Renee's husband decides to jump-start their love life by checking out the swinger's scene; Danielle's daughter becomes pregnant and shakes everybody up; and just when Kayla finally finds a good man, she is hauled off to jail for a crime she didn't commit. While dealing with their own personal chaos, Renee and Danielle join forces to uncover the true criminal and free Kayla. The result is a fast-paced novel where drama in the church, relationship confusion and the oft talked about phenomenon of down-low men clash with sista-girl solidarity.

Daniels has penned an entertaining read, though I found myself questioning the strength of the friendship between the women at various points throughout the book. And I was frequently frustrated with the characters' shenanigans. Drama on top of more drama, the occasional laugh, a few sighs and several headshakes; they're all between the covers of this book. If you like nonstop calamity with strong soap opera undertones, this is the book for you. Before venturing into this book, I hadn't read its predecessor but Daniels does a good job of bringing the reader up to speed, for which I'm glad, because she also leaves the door open for the possibility of a third installment to the saga. Though not my usual speed, I enjoyed this book.

Reviewed by T. Shelly B.
for the RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

A breeding ground for trouble? All cats, especially females, are at risk for developing many severe reproductive-system disorders.(Health)(Cover story): An article from: Cat Watch

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A breeding ground for trouble? All cats, especially females, are at risk for developing many severe reproductive-system disorders.(Health)(Cover story): An article from: Cat Watch
Tom Ewing
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000N0X180
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Cat Watch, published by Thomson Gale on October 1, 2006. The length of the article is 1352 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: A breeding ground for trouble? All cats, especially females, are at risk for developing many severe reproductive-system disorders.(Health)(Cover story)
Author: Tom Ewing
Publication: Cat Watch (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 10 Issue: 10 Page: 12(2)

Article Type: Cover story

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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