Got to Be Real: Four Original Love Stories

Rating:
Summary: Great Idea
Review: These gentlemen are the hottest writers around right now and publishing an anthology featuring them all was a fantastic idea. Marcus Major is a young new talent and I'm sure we're going to get a whole lot more from him. I fell in love with Colin Channer's writing with "Waiting in Vain" which I hope won't happen for his next book. Lynn and Eric know exactly which buttons to push to keep the readers hooked. Keep those books coming gentlemen, your public awaits.

Rating:
Summary: A Worthy Collection
Review: I found this collection to be quite an entertaining read. The idea of gathering four talented writers was a useful one. While I was familiar with E. Lynn Harris and somewhat familiar with Eric Jerome Dickey, I had not heard of Colin Channer and Marcus Major. After reading this book, next on my reading list will be Channer and Major. This is a wonderful way to expose readers to authors they may not have thought to check out before. The stories were, for the most part, captivating. For some reason, the characters in Cafe Piel by Eric Jerome Dickey did not appeal to me as much as some others. Colin Channer's style of writing allows the reader to become intimately acquainted with his characters. Somehow, Marcus Major was able to have me rooting Amir and hoping Kenya would open the door when just a few pages back, Amir was not at all a likeable character to me. E. Lynn Harris has a way of writing an enthralling story across all sorts of lines that people usually stay on their side of. I'm looking forward to reading more from all of these authors in the very near future.

Rating:
Summary: FOUR FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!
Review: I'm currently in the United States Air Force on my way to Saudi Arabia for 90 days. I bought the book to read while I was there. I made the mistake of reading the first three pages of the first story and I couldn't put it down. I guess I'll be rereading it in Saudi! All four stories were very good. I already have all of Eric and E. Lynn's books. I'll be on the lookout for Marcus and Colin!! Well done, gentlemen!!!

Rating:
Summary: COLIN CHANNER IS THE MAN!!
Review: Four popular male authors of comes together to create a novella of four uniquely different love stories. I've enjoyed reading all four stories, but had to choose my personal favorite of the four than it would have to be the story intitled: I'm Still Waiting by Colin Channer. This is the story about a biracial singing star, a music producer and his ex-wife of 20 years set in at first in New York then takes us to Jamaica. Each character has their own inner struggle for happiness and love. Colin has this unique way of story telling that cannot be matched. His style is metaphoric, lyrically poetic, erotic and sensual. He's very honest about what goes through a man's mind when he's in love. I hope that Colin is reading that this review because I'd like him to know how much his work thrills me when I read his work and I look forward to reading his future work.

Rating:
Summary: Reeled me in
Review: Got to Be Real was a good introduction for me to the "ethnic" romance genre. I've not had the time to indulge in romance novels and this was a good read. The Eric J. Dickey story I didn't enjoy as much because it felt more like an outline of a work in progress, or maybe it's his style? however he can really turn a phrase! And although my baby bro' has had copies of E. Lynn Harris' books around I never got a chance to read it. He's a very good story teller, though honestly it feels strange to read about males who have "'tude and talk" like a woman?? Now for my favorites: Unlike other reviewers I thought Marcus Major's Amir and Kenya to be truly real, it had me turning pages and keeping my fingers crossed! Colin Channer has got the gift! He is one talented brother and can weave descriptive visuals with teasing emotion. I give his story 5 stars! This collection of stories, though uneven in quality, was definitely worth my time and has made me want to seek out other books by most of the authors. Go ahead Reader, indulge!

Rating:
Summary: Loved it!!!!
Review: I bought this book on a whim and once I started reading it, I could not put it down, Yes, I read it in one day. I have since reread it numerous times. This collection of short stories is worth the money!

Rating:
Summary: Over rated
Review: I didn't like this book very much. I like the writers but I got to say this is by far was the worst of all the writers talents. Don't by this book. The best choice is to get at the library

Rating:
Summary: Not all bad, but not all good either
Review: This book is chocked full of talented writers, however, they're not all living up to to their talent and name. Yup, I was disappointed. I found the saving grace of this collection to be Colin Channer's piece - not surprising that it was the longest and last piece - anchoring the book. Channer again, exposes Jamaica's multi-culture roots with sincerity and honesty. Channer's writing is detailed and poetic. His characters are fleshed out, understndable, and accesible. Once you've read the story you feel like you've read a much longer piece - that's how concise Channer's story telling is. Personally, I want to know what happens next. Colin Channer is the substance in this book of flash.

Rating:
Summary: Got to Be Real
Review: I absolutely loved this book! Already having been a fan of E. Lynn Harris and Jerome Dickey I expected a great read. I'd hoped they'd be in good company since I hadn't read the other authors, Colin Channer and Marcus Major and I was not dissapointed in the least. These four short stories are concise and to the point but still managed to draw me into the lives of the characters. This book made me hungry for more. I quickly sought out more material by these authors.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: Got To Be Real was not just a good book, it had alot of different styles. Well, I have been a Dickey fan for a while, so as soon as I heard that a book with him in it was comming out, I had to read it. However, Dickey does deal with real issues but he is more fun to read usually, he gets u angry,happy etc by his words...one can always relate in some way to his tales, and he really becomes his characters, even if they are the opposite sex, it doesnt sound like a man trying to write about a woman, it sounds like a woman speaking. Major is similar to Dickey but he has his own way of doing the same thing I fell in love with Amir, I told Kenya to kick his behind out of her life "you go girl!" people were like.."where did u buy that book, its got u going, i have to read it!". It took me effort to read Mr. Harris' story when i realised it was about a gay guy, this is cause the bible says such people will not inherit Gods kingdom. Also because they usually do not share in the beauty of things masculine, but he got me to read it, when usually i wud say "bun fyah" so he is a really good writer. Now let me get to what I was waiting on...Mr. Colin Channer. His story was metaphorical and real..it was like relaxation and inspiration in the form of a book. None of the characters are perfect, yet they dont need to be, cause though they arent they already are. This man breaks love down into molecules and feeds it to the reader.There are truths of life in his story, and it was a perfect end to a book that contained something for everyone. It could teach anyone a lesson or two, beautiful and so authentic, so so real. I would like to give an applause to all of the writers,they deserve their money.. one Selena.