Rating: 
Summary: Choices
Review: MJH has scored big again.True Lies should have been titled, "Baby Mamma Drama". Rick first love is his daughter Kanisha. His baby mother Gina is a young, simple minded child that doesn't know what a good man she has in Rick until it is too late. Dajah Moore is a sista that seems to have it all together. Recently ended a relationship, Dejah is lonely. When Rick and Dajah meet one evening they are drawn to each other. The drama start to unfold when Rick send Gina and Kanisha packing to start a relationship with Dajah. MJH's latest work reads like a movie. The emotions run so deep. From time to time I had to close the book due to anger from the choices of the characters. There were no easy answers in this book. HARD DECISIONS. This title is highly recommended. Best Wishes and support to you Margaret.
Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING!
Review: Ms. Johnson-Hodge scores again with me! I read "Butterscotch Blues" (made me cry) and "Some Sunday (made me laugh and cry)and loved them both, but "True Lies" was for me "TRUE LIFE"! Been there, done that, but didn't take me as long as Dahja to figure it out. Excellent read. Ms. Johnson-Hodge has a fan for life!
Rating:
Summary: For Truth or Lies
Review: Much has been said for True Lies but I want to comment on the
Baby Momma Drama. Yes, yes , yes it was and well done. At times the emotions over whelmed me . I had to actually put the book down many times so I would not cry. This is one you will not want to miss . I rate this one 4.5 to 4.8 * You need to meet Rick , Gina, Kanisha( daughter) and Dajah .... They will each touch your heart in some way good , bad and indifferent. This is an emotional story not to be missed. One you will not want to put down until the end . You will feel you have got to know what is going to happen next. Dajah is a one of a kind sista. I was wondering how long would it be before she saw things as they were. Yes Rick loved her but did he love her enough. I thought he loved Gina more.
In the end she make the right decision. There was no other way this story could have end for me. Unless Rick actually admit he wanted to take Gina back . Rick really did not deserve Dajah I thought she spend to much waited time with him. What love she had for him . I kept thinking wake up and see the roses not smell them . It was so obvious to me he didn't loved more. I hope I have not given to much of the story away put I would not help mself.
Read and see.
I had to put the book down many times so I would not cry. a great bookclub selection . Be sure to answers the question at the end of the story. No peeping until the end.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!
Review: My goooodness!!! has this lady ever written a bad book? Ms Johson-Hodge has my full attention on not True Lies but every book she has written. She indeed has a great talent!!! Many writers often experience "hit and miss" but not her!!! Each book leaves me wanting more and more....Bravo!!! to you Ms Johson-Hodge
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!
Review: My goooodness!!! has this lady ever written a bad book? Ms Johson-Hodge has my full attention on not True Lies but every book she has written. She indeed has a great talent!!! Many writers often experience "hit and miss" but not her!!! Each book leaves me wanting more and more....Bravo!!! to you Ms Johson-Hodge
Rating:
Summary: It's Getting Hot in Here!
Review: Some books are meant to entertain. Others are meant to enlighten. True Lies by Margaret Johnson Hodge probably leans more to the latter for many folks; esp. those who will see their story on the printed pages. True Lies took me into a world,that while familiar with it, I hope never to personally experience it. Hodge gives us characters that are over the top, however, she never allows the plot to dominate the storyline, instead it is the characters (and as it should be) who TELL us their story. In telling us their story, Rick, Dajah and Gina bring us up close and personal center stage with front roll seats. True Lies is about deceit, secrets, family ties and baby mama drama. It's a story that some have even experienced. You know the one where the man (i.e. Rick) meets a nice woman (i.e. Dajah) but he's already in a relationship with his tired and trifling baby mama (i.e. Gina). The new lady in his life says..."when you get rid of her and get your head/life together give me a call." The guy thinks that he has it together so he calls but he forgets to mention a few important particulars to said new lady who continues to travel from point A to point B because she's been told that everything is fine, baby mama is no longer in the picture and the plan is a go. Unfortunately, baby mama realizes what a good man she had, misses him and will go through any means necessary to get him back. And there in lies the rub. I must admit I had a difficult time reading True Lies because I was looking for a light, entertaining read and for me it was neither. However, it was well-written, with excellent character development, vivid imagery and a storyline that some folks need to read/hear so that they don't make the same mistake. It was a compelling read that I devoured in one sitting even thought I stayed in one zone as far as the characters were concerned...primarily disgusted and appalled. In fact, none of the characters were likable even little Kanisha was annoying as heck with her womanish ways. But you were drawn to them because you knew some folks just like them who you wanted to slap up side the head for being so foolish. It was a book that made for a lively, stimulating and sometimes heated discussion with my fellow bookclub members and two weeks later we're still discussing this book as thought these characters are real people. On the APOOO chart, True Lies is a 4.5. I recommend True Lies to new readers (if you've never experienced Ms. Hodge's work you need to; start by reading Butterscotch Blues) and fans alike who are looking for a well-crafted read from a talented and skilled author who continues to hone her craft. Ms. Hodge I can't wait for your next release Needful Things and I'm looking forward to devouring another wonderful book from you. PS-Next time can you also give me some characters that provide comic relief as well? ;) Yasmin
APOOO BookClub
Rating:
Summary: The Idea, The Consequences
Review: Sometimes we can believe our dreams so much that it is our quest to make them reality, no matter the absurdity. In True Lies, Margaret Johnson Hodges takes a subject that could have been made into drama and more drama and develops a story about the hard decisions that characters have to make. The decisions that may make or break a relationship. In this love triangle, on the apex is Rick. A hard working man, trying to do the right thing, take care and support his young daughter, Kanisha. On one end of the triangle is Gina, his young, non-caring, neglectful baby mama. She would rather go party than stay at home and be a mom. On the other end is Dajah, a woman who on the surface seems to have it altogether. She meets Rick the same day she gets her heartbroken by a relationship gone badly. At this time, Rick is tiring of Gina but is concerned enough for his child to stay in a relationship that is unhealthy. When Gina messes up for the last time, he drops her off at her mother`s home and begins a serious relationship with Dajah. Then, the Baby Mama Drama starts and continues as each of the major players fights for what they want. I appreciate how Johnson-Hodges takes this controversial subject and presents it without extreme craziness. Instead, she allows the reader in delve into the inner person and explores why they do the things they do. There are great secondary characters like Freida, Dajah's workaholic friend and Tarika, Gina's best friend who had the gumption to go after a better life. As always Margaret Johnson Hodges has given readers a well written, interesting and captivating novel that is highly recommended. Motown Review Book Club
Rating:
Summary: The Idea, The Consequences
Review: Sometimes we can believe our dreams so much that it is our quest to make them reality, no matter the absurdity. In True Lies, Margaret Johnson Hodges takes a subject that could have been made into drama and more drama and develops a story about the hard decisions that characters have to make. The decisions that may make or break a relationship. In this love triangle, on the apex is Rick. A hard working man, trying to do the right thing, take care and support his young daughter, Kanisha. On one end of the triangle is Gina, his young, non-caring, neglectful baby mama. She would rather go party than stay at home and be a mom. On the other end is Dajah, a woman who on the surface seems to have it altogether. She meets Rick the same day she gets her heartbroken by a relationship gone badly. At this time, Rick is tiring of Gina but is concerned enough for his child to stay in a relationship that is unhealthy. When Gina messes up for the last time, he drops her off at her mother's home and begins a serious relationship with Dajah. Then, the Baby Mama Drama starts and continues as each of the major players fights for what they want. I appreciate how Johnson-Hodges takes this controversial subject and presents it without extreme craziness. Instead, she allows the reader in delve into the inner person and explores why they do the things they do. There are great secondary characters like Freida, Dajah's workaholic friend and Tarika, Gina's best friend who had the gumption to go after a better life. As always Margaret Johnson Hodges has given readers a well written, interesting and captivating novel that is highly recommended. Motown Review Book Club
Rating: 
Summary: depressing
Review: the book was good but depressing. felt bad for dajah but she allowed everything that happen to her and rick allowed everything that happen to him. he played her without knowing he was. he never really let his feeling go for gina
Rating:
Summary: The Lies We Tell Ourselves
Review: The title True Lies is well represented in this novel about three people who have come to believe the lies they tell themselves. Rick is a corrections officer who is quickly becoming frustrated with his baby's mama's antics. Gina is trying to deal with the pressures of being a mother while wanting to hang in the streets with her friends. Dajah is a self assured accountant coming out of a disappointing relationship. When Rick and Dajah have a chance meeting, Rick starts to devise a plan that will allow the three of them to live happily ever after or will it. As with all of MJH's book that I have read, she drew me into the story by making me feel for the characters. I was emotionally invested in Rick and Dajah. Even though I was determined to dislike Gina at the beginning of the book, I found myself pulling for her in the end. I was even interested in the outcome of the minor characters whose stories were just as compelling but not overpowering. In this book, there are no easy answers. The characters are forced to make some hard decisions that are believable to the reader. While reading Butterscotch Blues and Some Sunday, I shed some tears. Even though this did not happen with True Lies, the emotions that it sparked were just as intense. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read a good book because this one had me guessing the outcome until the surprising realistic end. Reviewed by Nicole
APOOO Book Club
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