Rating: 
Summary: The Sooner You Give, the Sooner You Get to Have.....
Review: Yes, he's back, the invincible Basil, who has made nine appearances in E. Lynn Harris' books and like a black cat, he has nine lives. Raymond, the tall sensual brother who has made peace with his sexuality, is also back. But this is not just their story. It is smoothly interwoven in a web of other tales revolving around scenes of New York City, which include power and corruption at a high profile magazine, the making and breaking of relationships, and the tragedy of 9/11.Raymond leaves Seattle to take the position of CEO of Bling Bling magazine and to make a new start in life after a major disappointment in his love life. Davis McClinton is a wealthy high-powered brother and Raymond's ruthless boss. He has several financial holdings reminiscent of a combination of Donald Trump/Robert Johnson type. What are the secrets he is hiding? Zola Norwood, an intelligent brown sugar beauty, is the editor-in-chief of Bling Bling on her way to realizing her dream of starting her own publication. But she has paid heavy prices, juggling three men among them the very much married McClinton. And then there is Basil, a wiser, more mature Basil--- but for how long?--- who is now a father. As always with Harris' writing, he gives compelling characterizations, a page turning storyline, and settings that puts you there. We see New York in its finest, Broadway shows, parties of the rich and famous, high-powered corporate stakes, and on its worst day, the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Because of the horror of that day, values are re-evaluated, life-altering decisions are made and relationships of all kinds are tested. With impressive secondary characters, some old ones-- need I mention Yancey and Ava make their appearances-along with the new ones-- the wild, wacky buddies of Zola, this story will have readers laughing and crying. This one, while not his best--Invisible Life and Just As I Am cannot be duplicated-- is an improvement over his last two novels. Much has been said about the recycling of Basil, who has been ever present in all novels, and his shenanigans. Hopefully this story will satisfy some of his detractors and we won't need to hear from him anymore. But I am a die-hard fan and if Harris writes another book and puts Basil is in it, I will still be at my favorite book store on release day wrangling for the last copy.
Rating: 
Summary: Staying true to yourself
Review: Raymond Tyler Jr., has returned. After having lived in Seattle, Washington with his lover Trent, Raymond has come back to the place where his heart lies, New York City. New York is a place that holds good and bad memories for him and has always been his favorite place to live. Raymond has recently gone through a pretty rough period in his life and hopes that moving to a new place will help to rejuvenate his mind and spirit. He has accepted the CEO position at a hot, up and coming urban magazine called Bling, Bling. Zola Denise Norwood has it going on. She is the innovative editor of Bling, Bling, she is beautiful and is blessed to have a family and friends that love her. Zola is only missing one thing, a man to call her own. Of course she has men but she doesn't have that man that takes her breath away or that she can call a soulmate. In A Love Of My Own, E. Lynn Harris's eighth novel, he brings us into the lives of Raymond and Zola. Also, he beautifully intertwines the September 11 tragedy and the death of R & B singer Aaliyah into the storyline and portrays them with compassion and accuracy. As a reader it was very interesting to see how these two tragic events affected Raymond, Zola and the people around them. A Love Of My Own was a wonderful book. Raymond Tyler Jr., is my favorite character and I was very pleased to see him back. I have just one complaint about this book, and that is that I finished it and now I have to wait for E. Lynn Harris's next literary offering. Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks
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Summary: WONDERFUL BOOK
Review: This is one book, along with other E. Lynn Harris's bookS that caught my interest instantly. The xters come to live and I must say they got my total attention. My favorite xter, besides the ever righteous and somewhat confused Raymond, and hunk of all hunks Basil, were Hayden and Kia. They made me laugh so much with the comments they made on everything in life. I can relate more to Raymond and Basil together because that's how my life is.
I believe it is a great book you can read over and over again because I read it three times in a row!!!
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Summary: A Love Of My Own Is Off The Chain!!!
Review: I have read every one of E. Lynn Harris' books and have enjoyed each one of them, but A Love Of My Own is by far my favorite. Not only does E. Lynn bring back one of my favorite characters, Raymond Tyler, but he introduces his readers to a new one, the young, ambitious, and indomitable Zola Denise Norwood. Although Zola is a bit disillusioned when it comes to her faith in love (due to a devastating event in her past), you can't help but admire her drive with regard to her career. She is a strong Black woman who reeks of pure feminine finesse. Raymond, too, is as lovable as he always was. Having moved back to New York after a painful event in his life, he is reunited with his friend, John Basil Henderson (my all-time favorite E. Lynn character) and the sparks fly once more. Raymond is CEO of the magazine where Zola is Editor-in-Chief, and they gain a mutual respect and admiration for one another that turns into a genuine friendship. I think A Love Of My Own is some of E. Lynn's best writing. He beautifully weaves real life events into his story with taste and classs (the death of the beautiful Aaliyah and the WTC bombing) and takes his readers back to those sad events in our history and shows us how they also affect his characters. Returning in smaller roles are Yancy B, and her unforgettable mother, Madame Ava. Any of E. Lynn's devoted followers knows that he has a knack for creating characters his readers love to hate. In A Love of My Own he has done that again with Davis McClinton, Zola and Raymond's billionaire boss. But true to form, he also intersperses his books with smart, likeable folks of various ages, races and backgrounds. I can't say enough good things about this book. Really, I could go on for days. I loved it; read in it a few hours (as I have many of E. Lynn's other titles). Keep up the good work, E. Lynn Harris. You have a forever fan in me.
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Summary: Now That's what I'm talking about
Review: I thought that after making all these sequels of the book it couldn't get any better. But if got 100x better. The way each word brought to life of these characters was incredible. I LOVE YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
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Summary: Together Again
Review: E. Lynn Harris, in my humble opinion, has struck gold once again with A Love of My Own. Introducing new characters in Zola, Davis, Sebastian, Jabar, and Hayden; bringing back the dynamic Raymond Tyler Jr., cameo appearances by Yancy, Ava, Trent, and Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Tyler Sr.; then tossing in the character we all love to hate or to love Basil.
E. Lynn brings Raymond back to New York, to work for Bling, Bling where the owner, Davis and the Editor-in-Chief, Zola do not care that he is gay as long as he gets the job done. In A Love of My Own, Harris not only tells a great story but brings us face to face with the crash of 9/11 and the tragic death of the songbird Aaliyah. In my opinion, all of this serves to make the story real for readers. E. Lynn has taken Raymond full circle from and Invisible Life, he asks us to accept him Just As I Am, praying and hoping And This Too Shall Pass. Becoming a lawyer, finding a new love his only wish was If This World Were Mind. Giving his all to his family and partner, he asks please Abide With Me because Not A Day Gose By in which he does not realize life could change Any Way the Wind Blows. Blown back to New York, after lies, secrets, hurt, and pain Raymond finds A Love of My Own. Ladies and gentlemen if you have not read any of E. Lynns' work, the above paragraph contains all of his titles. You do not have to read then in order because E. Lynn is such a master story teller that each book stands on its own merit. A Love of My Own, to me is one of his best works. I am left with only two questions. Are Raymond and Basil a couple? Will Davis's secrets be told? I can only hope next summer there will be a new book with all the answers.
Reviewed by Toni Bonita,...
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Summary: Review: Harris's A Love of My Own
Review: A Review of "A Love of My Own" by. E. Lynn Harris. This has to be my favorite out of all the eight books in the Harris\Raymond series excluding the first two. Plot/Characters
The plot was a little different, in my opinion, from Harris other works. But still the plot was well-developed. The main character of the book is Zola. She is the editor of the magazine called Bling Bling. She is involved in a pleasure before business relationship with her boss Davis, who has a lot of issues of his own, and when she decides do end the pleasure he decides to end the business. Raymond also becomes an employee of Davis when his break up with Trent drives him to New York. Characters like Yancy B. and her mother are back and some new comers like Zola's friends and her "boyfriend" Jabar are introduced. And my favorite character, Basil, is also back. I am still not sure whether I like the change in Basil or not. + Positive
Harris bought in current events in to the story. He is one of the very few writers to do this. I also like the way he keeps you updated with the main characters in the books before this one. Some might disagree with me on this point but a think that the ending of this book is/was (don't know if Harris will write about Raymond again) a good way to end the series.
- Negative
I would have liked to know a little more about Davis character. Don't get me wrong his character was well-developed it just that I would like to have known a little more. I would have liked to know his side of the story and the reasons for his actions. = next time
I would like to know more about the relationship between Zola and Jabar but then again, Harris would some how have to mention Raymond again and I don't think that Harris should write about Raymond again.
Rating:
Summary: Just Can't Get Enough
Review: E. Lynn Harris is the master of black fiction. I was in the airport one day traveling from Dallas to California and I wanted a book to read and I picked out Any Way the Wind Blows and I have been hooked to ELH and black fiction ever since that day. The stories are incredible. I cannot wait for his books to become movies. I can already see some people as characters. And if the movies are as good as the books, we have ourselves a hit.
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Summary: I loved this book
Review: This book was amazing. This book was a fantastic ending to the Raymond Tyler series. I hope Mr. Harris does not try to write a novel about Raymond after this because this is the perfect ending, and I would not want it anyother way. I can not find the words to express the splender of this book; just read it.
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Summary: Triumph, Turmoil, Reality, Dreams......All up in here!!
Review: E.Lynn Harris is like a fine wine, gets better with time. His writing and story telling gets better with each novel he writes. He has re-introduced Raymond Tyler in this story and the breath taking Basil Henderson. Raymond and Trent have called it quits and Trent has moved on leaving Raymond feeling broken. Raymond has decided to move from Seattle to New York. Here in New York, Raymond rekindles feelings for Basil, gains understanding of living one day at a time. High Powered Billionaire Davis is a living legend on paper and in the eyes of the media, but you soon learn that he has some dark secrets that I look forward to reading more about in future writings. Yancy B and her mother (Ava) are back and up to their old tactics that turns critical. Zola is the brains behind "bling bling" but she learns that it is not her brains that has secured her future. E.Lynn Harris has introduced some very interesting characters and he has implemented the real life tragedies of 9-11 into this and it makes it very real and sets the perfect stage for the characters. I know that Raymond is not tilting the scales and has admitted to being "gay" and not "bi-sexual" but the chemistry in this book, made me want him and Zola to hook up and for her to turn him out, and put him back on the straight and narrow and let Basil and Trent and all those other confused brothers see that he is no longer available and let Raymond have a real love of his own. People love Raymond, and his honesty and morals and emotions are very enticing in a world of deception and confusion. I believe that you will thoroughly enjoy this story and will be waiting for more. Kudos to Mr. Harris and I think that his writing has improved one hundred fold.
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