Rating: 
Summary: Great insight, great writing but where's the tension
Review: As I was reading this book I enjoyed what I was taking in. Only problem was that the story never really went anywhere. I thought for sure Raheim would either come out or be found out creating the tension and a chance for some riveting writing. What happens when a B-Boy is discovered being something else other than he is perceived. In the African-American culture, sadly, being gay is catastrophic and tragic. The outcome could be devastating to a person like Raheim who has lived his life a certain way and has to face alienation from, for example, his son's mother and straight friends(home-boys)who have their own ideas of what a man should be. Most importanly, I believe Hardy missed the boat on what could have been a great chapter on a black mother coming to terms with her gay son without falling into stereotypes and a movie-of-the-week ending. Hardy is too good of a writer for that trapping.
Rating: 
Summary: Great sequel
Review: Great sequel about Pookie and Lil'Bit's love and family life together
Rating: 
Summary: Sophomoric Sequel
Review: Hardy's second book in the Raheim River's story is a watered down drink compared to the earlier ambrosia of B-Boy Blues. This book, similar to E. Lynn Harris's second novel, is told through two voices--Raheim and Mtichell's. Hardy's split of storytellers destroys the book's flow. What is worst is that Raheim's dialogue is unconvincing. Instead of sounding like a rough street man, his thoughts read exactly like Mitchell's-- only with slang. Unfortunately, this book does not have the same sexy presence of the highly erotic previous novel. Some people argued that B-Boy Blues was too sexy, almost pornographic, and it appears that Hardy didn't want readers to similarly crticize this novel. 2nd Time Around lacks eroticism and tastyness--flavor. Hardy needs to rethink where he wants Raheim and Mitchell to go, and then seriously decide the best method to tell their story.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Sequel From A True Voice
Review: I absolutely loved B Boy Blues when it came out. The author created a unique writing style, firmly anchored in the everyday speech and real people of a special community, and told a story of universal appeal in that style. As with most sequels, 2nd Time Around is 'pastoral' in character. B Boy Blues is, by necessity, character- and plot-driven. In 2nd Time Around, we know the personas of the characters and how they communicate, and there is time to get into their heads more deeply -- who is where on various political and social issues, to say nothing of their own developing identities. In the end -- able craftsman that he is -- the author shows that it is all relevant to a skillfully insinuated plot that ties together like a classic pastoral comedy in the end. I was raised, long before the days of political correctness and the purchase of social status through elevated literary pretentions, on the down-to-earth value of 'dialect' literature. I was, and still am, completely in love with the dialect works of James Whitcomb Riley ("The Bear Story") and Paul Laurence Dunbar ("Little Brown Baby"). Since then, I've discovered that many languages have masters of the same approach -- Abu Nuas in Arabic comes to mind. The fact is, you can say the most profound things and make the most on-target observations in the spoken language that gets us from rising up to lying down every day. And so can James Earl Hardy. I can't wait to read the third in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Great Sequel From A True Voice
Review: I absolutely loved B Boy Blues when it came out. The author created a unique writing style, firmly anchored in the everyday speech and real people of a special community, and told a story of universal appeal in that style. As with most sequels, 2nd Time Around is 'pastoral' in character. B Boy Blues is, by necessity, character- and plot-driven. In 2nd Time Around, we know the personas of the characters and how they communicate, and there is time to get into their heads more deeply -- who is where on various political and social issues, to say nothing of their own developing identities. In the end -- able craftsman that he is -- the author shows that it is all relevant to a skillfully insinuated plot that ties together like a classic pastoral comedy in the end. I was raised, long before the days of political correctness and the purchase of social status through elevated literary pretentions, on the down-to-earth value of 'dialect' literature. I was, and still am, completely in love with the dialect works of James Whitcomb Riley ("The Bear Story") and Paul Laurence Dunbar ("Little Brown Baby"). Since then, I've discovered that many languages have masters of the same approach -- Abu Nuas in Arabic comes to mind. The fact is, you can say the most profound things and make the most on-target observations in the spoken language that gets us from rising up to lying down every day. And so can James Earl Hardy. I can't wait to read the third in this series.
Rating:
Summary: NOW, THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL A SEQUEL!
Review: I am SO glad that hardy decided to take a different track with this book. While I, like many other, enjoyed B-Boy Blues, I thought it was too Terry McMillanish and only hinted at the talent he has. Well, I was right. Instead of giving us more gossipy narrative and lots of sex (hey, I don't mind reading about it but it shouldn't consume the story), he really digs down deep into the psyche of his characters and delivers a tale that, unlike most novels written by Black men, straight or gay, really shows us as human beings trying to name ourselves. I saw myself and the Black and Puerto Rican boyz I know in this book more than I did the first. This sequel isn't sophomoric, nor does it lack tension, as a couple of folks below claim (I suggest they reread the novel with both their eyes and mind opened); it's an original, engaging, insightful, passion-filled story. Hardy proves that sequel doesn't have to mean repeating yourself.
Rating:
Summary: I had to read this...
Review: I had to read this book after finishing the first book. My uncles girlfriend wouldn't even let me read the first one from all the sex in it... So I took it upon my self to read that one of my own. I went to the library, took it out and read it... she lent me the 2nd and the third one... which I read like in 2-3 days... this is just a conintuation of the first one... Instead of this book talking about the perspective of Mitchell Crawford AKA Little Bit... It talks from Raheim Rivers Aka Pooquie's history background and perspective...
Rating:
Summary: Can't wait to read the sequel
Review: I loved the book. It had a nice flavor to it that was different from the first book. I liked the flashbacks. It made me really get to know Raheim. He was the person that I really wanted to know about, probably because I can relate to him more. I just wonder if Raheim is ever going to come out in the future sequel/s. Mitchell's cool too. I miss his friends and philosophies. I guess I'll be expecting that in the next...
Rating: 
Summary: 2nd Time Around Isn't Always The Best Time
Review: I was filled with excitment as I opened the pages to 2nd Time Around. This excitement soon turned into boredom. Mr. Hardy did not live up to the expectations of the fans that he won with B Boy Blues.2nd Time Around was the wrost book that I have read in years. There were several times when I wasn't sure what was happening. This was becasue the book lacked a plot or a story line. The relationship between all the characters was so unrealistic that I almost regurgitated. Little Brother Man's brithday party was the most unrealistic. 2nd Time Around also adds to the discrimination of effeminate Black men by constantly making derogatory comments about them. Mr. Hardy should have given this book away on some street cornor in Compton where I'm sure no one would have read it.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!Loved it!Loved it!Loved it!
Review: If you want a book that's honest, funny and real, buy this one! I love James Earl Hardy and I can't wait for his next release!
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