Diamond Drought

Rating:
Summary: this book is worth it
Review: Being an avid reader of urban lit, I found Mr McCalla's book to be one of the real ones out here..He has taken the game to a whole new level. I enjoyed this book full of twists and turns in the life of Rich and his friends. This story is definitely a hip hop soap opera and is definitely worth the read..waiting patiently for Diamond Dynasty...Anyone who loves diamonds should definitely check this series out..




Rating:
Summary: An urban soap opera!!!
Review: Brandon McCalla is definately taking the urban literary field into a new direction and I'm coming along for the entire ride. Diamond Drought is a classic that should be catagorized with Coldest Winter Ever, BMore Careful and True to The Game. Diamond Drought actually transcends urban fiction. Brandon wrote a Jackie Collins type novel with characters from the Hood. Even his acknowledgements are blazing when he opened it up with that quote from Foxy Brown..(Let me tell you where I grew up at/sip mo, threw up at/flip coke, blew up at...) I knew then that he was a brother on his grind. Brandon I'm a fan for life. Diamond Dynasty, the literary field will never be the same!!!

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT READ!!!!!
Review: BRANDON PUT IN SOME WORK WITH THIS BOOK. IT HAVE A DIFFERENT SIDE TO IT, FROM THE OTHER BOOKS THAT ARE OUT. HE'S A VERY TALENTED WRITER, WITH AN INK THUMB!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS I CANT WAIT FOR PARTII TO DROP. DONT NEVER PUT THE PEN DOWN. KEEP WRITING THAT FIYA.

FAN FOR LIFE
TARAYA
COAST 2 COAST READERS BOOKCLUB

Rating:
Summary: A TRUE FAN
Review: DIAMOND DROUGHT..........CAN YOU SAY HOT,FRESH,THE BOMB. WHAT EVER YOU SAY,JUST SAY WELL WRITTEN! DIAMOND DROUGHT TAKE'S YOU EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO GO.THIS BOOK IS A TRUE PAGE TURNER AND WILL HAVE YOU WANTING MORE. I CAN SAY I READ THIS BOOK IN LESS THAN 6 HOURS!BRANDON HAS DONE HIS THANG WIT THIS HERE. BRANDAN I AM A TRUE FAN!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: A Good Street Drama
Review: I liked this story about a drug dealer who has bigger plans for his life than selling dope. I liked all the characters and I could feel them. The story has a few twists and surprises when someone wants Rich out of the game.The book has a strong Hip Hop theme and a lot of street language. A gritty street drama.
Reviewed by
Candy

Rating:
Summary: Diamonds are a girl's best friend
Review: I'm not even going to lie. I was skeptical coming into this read. I heard that it was all that, but haven't we all heard that? The author himself was reppin his book hard, but what author wouldn't? So I prepared for disappointment. After all, this book hails itself as being America's first hip hop soap opera. Come on! A hip hop soap opera? That just meant to me another book with a large cast of characters most of whom would either not be fully developed or leave me questioning their existence in the first place. And with this in mind, I began to read . . . .

Diamond Drought is set in the streets of New York around main characters Rich "Filthy Rich" and his lady Leaya. Rich, a drug dealer at the top of his game, is ready to move on to more legit ventures - producing music and opening a club. Beautiful Leaya is in love with Rich, but is insecure about their relationship. She knows what she has and that other women would love to have it too. They are surrounded by a cast of characters. Some friends, some foes. Some who want nothing but the best for them, and some with hidden agendas. Friends become foes, and the drama ensues.

Now with all that said - I liked it. Brandon pulled it off. It was definitely an attention holding gritty street drama with twists and turns. Even though there are a lot of characters, each one was properly developed with a good balance. You knew enough to understand their actions, but not too much to predict them. Good story that leaves readers anticipating book two.
BUT . . . (there is always a but) I also had some issues with this book. The first being the language used to refer to women. Pretty much every woman was a b*tch, broad, or dame. I lost count after awhile. Second, the redundant references of designer clothes. Prada. Coogi. Paul Smith. Kate Spade. Sean Jean. Enough already! We get it. And third, the rap lyrics. Don't get me wrong, I love hip hop and rap as much as the next (50 is my BABY, G-G-G-G-Unit!) but I got tired of all the verses and passed over them.

I enjoyed the book. I do recommend it. And I look forward to Diamond Dynasty. But Brandon sweetie, clean it up brother. We are mothers. We are sisters. We are daughters. Respect us as such.


Rating:
Summary: Full Soap Opera Cast!
Review: It's street drama, where what you wear says who you are. The women better be good looking with a fat a**, and a rap or two to go with it. Rich is a street hustler trying to go straight with his recording business, but he has not completely let go of the streets. He has his crew (don't they always) and his woman Leaya, who does not really trust her man fully. Rich would give her the world if he could, but there is someone watching Rich's every move, and this person wants Rich to go down...in a two by four!
This drama moves along fast with a host of colorful characters to keep up with, but if you are a avid reader you can handle it. The story has a lot of layers which start to unfold as you get deeper into the book. All the characters were richly developed and added their own flavor to the story. I can honestly say I did not know what the out come of this book would be and I was pleasantly surprised. I did not like the rap versus (the story did'nt need so many of them) and too many brand name dropping!!!! I have a couple of questions for Mr McCalla but I will wait and ask him in an online chat. Otherwise I enjoyed the story. The book has an excellent cover and I am looking forward to Brandon's next book in the Diamond series.

Rating:
Summary: a good read
Review: Ok, I must say ease up on the words you use to refer to women. The words are harsh and not all of your women characters are those names.

The debut novel of Brandon McCalla, Diamond Drought book one of the Diamond Series, the book was off the hook, a mystery and a street life book rolled into one. It is a must read, can't wait for Diamond Dynasty. Keep up the good work.

Meet Rich, a hustler/music producer with his own music studio Ghetto Sounds, but still holding down the streets.
Major, Rich best friend since third grade. He is a hot rapper, but would rather hold it down in the streets. Will there friendship stay the same, or will the friendship end when the true comes out?
Afta, co-owner of Ghetto Sounds, and a true player who falls in love with the wrong girl. But can true love change him or does he stay the same.
Leaya, Rich " wifey". "With a face and body like Beyonce' Knowles", but will her being insecure
force him into the arms of another, or are her suspicious correct.
Shantel. The black Erica Kane. She gets what she wants, but will she get it this time?

Join the cast of characters as they take you through the streets of New York, for the first " Hip Hop Soap Opera". This book has the right balance of characters and drama to hood your attention. Hope the others are just as good.

Rating:
Summary: Melodramatic hip-hop-era
Review: Ponder if you will a soap opera that unfolds on the streets of New York. Instead of the stage being inside your television it's in book form. Set in black and white with Brandon as the narrator. YOUR own visualizations bring this baby to light. This melodramatic hip-hop-era, if you will is INTENSE.

Think of the rap lyrics, the infamous use of the B word, star wars lingo, and ALL of the fashion labels as mere commercials.

The focus is on "FILTHY" Rich. Who isn't as "FILTHY" as some of the other cast! Rich is a hustler, with aspirations of breaking into the music industry as a producer. He and his girl Leaya have been cohabitating for 3 years. Believe it or not she's a VERY INSECURE shop-o-holic! Didn't see that being the best of her did we? Leaya's suspicious of her man's late nights. She pacifies her girl Anna with some PRADA to keep a careful eye on her man. That within itself leads to more drama. But for who?

Rich's squad is comprised of Afta, Prime, and Major. They are the ones that oversee the actions out on the AVENUE and Ghetto sounds. Although Rich's days are numbered hustlin' he still hasn't told Leaya about his newest acquisition Diamonds'. The name is very significant to his "Princess".

Rich's number one nemesis has set an attack to FINALLY eliminate him. Rich meets Shantel. She's a "FILTHY" music producer with a hidden agenda. Imagine that! Is this merely a coincidence that she was turned on to Rich?

As the suspense builds watch out for the double-crossing tragedy, but does it end there?

I am a card holding member of the ITCHBA society! Not because some man uses that word to refer to women in general. BUT IT'S because I along with my ITCHBA's have given the word A REAL POWER! AND A HELL OF A MEANING! I'm stating not glorifying. I don't want to besmirch my character because I know who Crystal is!

Brandon, I think you have a very PECULIAR style in the way you choose to use YOUR words.



Rating:
Summary: THE GHETTO ONE LIFE TO LIVE SOAP OPERA
Review: THIS BOOK I RATE A 5 IT HAD ME ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT WAITING TO SEE WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN WITH SHANTEL AND RICH. THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO IS A DIE-HARD FAN OF URBAN LI. BRANDON SHOWED OUT INTHIS ONE AND GAVE US A TASTE OF HIS MUSIC SKILLS AS WELL AS RYHMEING. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL WHO HAVE'NT COPPED IT YET, IT WONT BE LONG BEFORE DIMOND DYNAST DROPS I OUR LAPS.... KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK BRANDON YOUR DOING YO THANG BRAH!!!!