Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining BUT poor writing skills
Review: I read "Behind Closed Doors" after reading and enjoying the author's latest book, "Casting the First Stone". The difference in writing skills is like night and day. I assume Kensington Books, Ms. Roby's publisher of all but her first book made sure an editor helped before publication. Her first book was self-published, certainly a brave effort, but the lack of editing is glaring. My impression of "Behind..." was that Ms. Roby had talent, wrote an entertaining and plausible story that most people can identify with (hence the book's popularity) - HOWEVER...numerous grammatical and spelling errors, atrocious sentence construction, and a virtual altar to naked and rampant materialism (how many Coach handbags and briefcases can one describe??)were a huge and disappointing distraction. One could open a department store or two with the number of name-brands mentioned ad nauseum. If this is supposed to be a model for the attitudes of the black middle class then this country and its children are all in serious trouble. Consumerism at all cost rather than an investor/wealth-building mentality seemed to be the message. More troubling is the fact that despite these serious shortcomings the book was lauded to the skies. It is one thing to praise and encourage budding talent while offering constructive feedback to ensure constant improvement and "bigger and better things". It is quite another to ignore serious flaws and lavish awards instead. It is like awarding an A for C- or D work - how does this benefit the author?? A disturbing thought is that there is such a dearth of good writing that there are no standards anymore. Either people do not read at all or do not remember what good writing looks like. As a result anything that seems entertaining is assumed to equate to 5 stars. Read her latest book to see the difference, then revaluate this first book.
Rating: 
Summary: Something all women can relate to
Review: Childhood friends; Regina Moore and Karen Jackson have achieved the American dream of the successful careers, the handsome husbands and extravagant homes in the Chicago suburbs. Eventually all isn't all well when Karen's husband John begins throwing away his paycheck to the race track, and Regina's husband Larry starts spending his more time at the office "so he says," but her woman's intuition tells her he's creepin'. Both women experience heartache and their biggest fears come to life.
Regina Moore is a independent, loving, strong, and determined wife who insists on savoring her marriage no matter what the costs. With all the sleepless nights and questions of his faithfulness Regina has stressed herself out, but won't give up on her husband even though he is cheating on her. Some men look at women as always being the strong one, but Regina realizes she is weak at times too and this characteristic is more than believable to me.
Behind Closed Doors deals with interesting topics like infidelity, gambling, friendship, and betrayal. Infidelity may be thought of as common. For Instance Regina's husband Larry is cheating on her with a close friend. Also, gambling can destroy a relationship or it can strengthen the bond between a couple as it does in this novel. Karen's husband John has a serious problem with gambling that he is not willing to confront. With the struggles they go through, they continually dust themselves off to rise and put their lives back on track. Friendship is the glue that holds them together.
Rating: 
Summary: Communication
Review: Behind Closed Doors made for good reading. It wasn't the best book I've read by Mrs. Roby, but I got the underline message. Most relations can be saved if people learn to communicate. I enjoyed the true friendship between Karen and Regina. I'm glad that Karen took her mother and Regina's advice and really listned and communicated with her husband. Regina relationship was off the wall different. I feel sorry for people like Larry, always thinking the grass is greener on the other side. I truly believe he did love Regina, and that he was confused about his feeling towards Marilyn. The break down in the marriage wasn't all his fault, but he should have communicated with his wife about his feelings. Like they say, by the time you come to your senses, it's to late to go back, people will only take so much, and playing with people emotions is something you don't do. Marilyn did just what she wanted to do, used Larry to get Regina. Jealous pepole are dangerous. But at the same time, I didn't think that Regina fell for Malcolm that fast either. I wouldn't have thought of Regina as a weak female, if she had given her marriage another try, with cousling. I know people that have gone through worse, and saved their marriage. Divorce is not the only way to handle a bad marriage. Most people learn from their mistakes. I wish most authors would write about that, marriaged is a communite that should not be taken lightly.
Rating: 
Summary: Try to get past the writing skills...
Review: After reading Casting the First Stone, Kimberla Roby's 2nd novel, I had to read her 1st, Behind Closed Doors. For a first attempt at writing a novel, this book was acceptable. The storyline was excellent, but her use of language and point illustration were below average. Her brand-name droppping brought her writing style down even more i.e., "She placed her Coach purse in the lower-right hand drawer and sat her black Coach briefcase on the floor." Everytime a handbag, among other things, was mentioned, the brandname was sure to follow. Spare me! Less is more sometimes. Furthermore, her sentences did not flow very well. It was as if she was writing for her junior high english teacher and afraid of getting her paper back full of red marks. Each sentenced was structured "too perfectly." However, if you look over the writing style and focus on the storyline you will find a very entertaining story of two friends going through the trials and tribulations of being "thirtysomething." What do you do when you have what you've always dreamed of -- perfect house, perfect careers, loving husbands, etc., and things go awry? Read and find out....
Rating:
Summary: This book wasn't as bad as some of the reviews claimed!
Review: This was very good book I think for a first timer. First of all Karen and Regina were good friends. But Marilyn was something else, a staight up back stabber. I couldn't believe the mess she did to Regina and the way she went about doing it. But hey Larry got taught a lesson, cause he thought the grass was greener on the other side. I am so glad Karen and John stayed together and worked their situation out and I am so proud of Regina for not going back to doggin Larry. This is a good book, so pick it up!
Rating:
Summary: Behind Closed Doors is Wide Open
Review: This novel is the fisrt of a long seris of wonderful work by Mrs. Roby. It took me a while to get this book, but once I recived it I could not put it down. I finsh reading it over the weekend. A great story and a easy read. Ladies let the truth be told this has happen to us or somebody we know. It is amazing how a story can reflect life so well.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT DEBUT (4.5 STARS)
Review: Well, after reading the different reviews about this book I was very skepital about reading it. But after the first page I realized that I was going to enojoy the book, and that is just what I did.
The book is about two friends, Regina and Karen, who are dealing with the problems of marriage. Regina belives that her husband Larry is cheating on her, and Karen cannot stand the fact that her husband,John,is gambling their money away. There are a few surprises in this book, but I have to admit that the ending is predictable. I can relate to this book because there are a lot of us women out there that want to be with our boyfriends/husbands after they have done something unthinkable. I think this book really tells readers that life will go on without the one that you love even though it may hurt. Love and pain is all a part of life.
Rating:
Summary: Fair to Middlin'
Review: Definitely not the best book that I've read, but it was a pretty good effort for a first novel. The characters, especially Regina, were not all that likable or interesting. Regina and Karen both seemed to be overly interested in having perfect lives and seemed a little shallow. I must agree with the other reviewers about the name dropping, which was a little irritating after a while. I'm glad to read that Ms. Roby's seond and third offerings are better, and will definitely give her another try.
Rating:
Summary: All right, No Fireworks
Review: I was able to get through this book; however, I wasn't very impressed, considering the hype on this author. I loaned it to a friend and she is having a rough time with it. The interior layout was amateurish, the storyline was okay, but the writer didn't really explore these sensitive issues as deeply as they should have been. And the ending was just too easy. There is plenty of room for growth and it was very evident in a subsequent work, "Casting the First Stone". That had some elbow grease put into it.
Rating:
Summary: This Book Shows The Importance Of Good Friends!
Review: I was a little far fetched at the beginning, I was like when is it going to get good,but it changed all at once. This book is a great example of the African American females of today. Way to go Kimberly.
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