Rating: 
Summary: Don't Waste Money - Borrow From a Friend!
Review: I did not like this book what-so-ever. Innocent and Noire really got on my nerves. For Innocent to be 33-34 he couldn't make up his mind what he really wanted and nor could Noire. Now I will say the author did a wonderful job of detailing all of the places the characters visited, I will give her that. But this book could have been sumed up in fewer pages. They were either going to get together or they weren't. Didn't like it. If you want to read it, wait on the paperback or borrow it from a friend.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Good and Frustrating
Review: I liked this book very much. I must admit that I hesitated for months on whether or not to buy this book. I would stare at it alot while I was at work (I work at a bookstore), and I finally broke down and bought it. I felt like I had a window into the lives of these characters. Not only were they complex, but very multi-dimensional. She touched on alot of issues within the Black and African communities. She painted an honest portrait into the issues of colorism and classism among the educated. She also touched on the issue of bi-curiosity for one brief moment between the lead character and a friend. It reminded alot of Alice Walker's characters Celie and Shug Avery. I thought maybe she could have developed that friendship a little more in this novel. This has been the only book in a while that I have allowed myself to talk back to the pages. That is how emotional I got when I read this book. What frustrated me most is that it kept me wondering if the two leads would ever get it together. Why did one reject the truth of love so much? Of course at the end, myself and other readers are probably wondering if the two will ever get it together. We were left hanging on our own thoughts of what could, should, or would happen. Ms. Turnipseed has done a great job with this novel, and I hope she plans to do something in the near future concerning her characters in A Love Noire. I feel like I need closure....
Rating: 
Summary: I loved it!
Review: I thought that this book was very well written. It delved into the issue of some mens fear of loving, some womens ability to love the hell out of a relationship, and some other peoples who are able love anything that has pulse no matter the gender! Oh well! For her debut going solo on this book, Ms. Turnipseed did an excellent job. The sky is the limit for you Ms. Turnipseed. Have all the stars my fellow Trini! *****
Rating:
Summary: Love for A Love Noire!
Review: I was attracted to this book from page 1. For many and probably most readers, get us on page 1, we will finish in a day or so. This was me! I was so in tuned to both Noire and Innocent. Beyond that, I wanted to understand Arike, Jayna, Marcus and their backgrounds too. The book enlightens the reader of cultural differences, but also invites understanding into the similarities of the bourgois, regardless of continent. Erica Turnipseed has a unique and sophisticated flare for character development and art in writing - a quality that is so rare of modern authors. She was never in a hurry to say anything and yet, when it was all said, I was continuously moved. A Love Noire is a delightful first novel. This debut leaves readers excited and anxious about what Ms. Turnipseed will come up with next. It is also an excellent book club choice. Recommend it to your club!
Rating:
Summary: Not in love with this book
Review: I would say that it is refreshing to read a book that has extremely intelligent black people who live outside their comfort zone but I couldn't really get into this book. The characters are old enough to know better. I think everyone can relate to that feeling that you may not fit into the lifestyle of your mate but how many people carry that insecurity into their 30's. Innocent was old enough to know better. Noire was annoying and obnoxious. I applaud the authors efforts for trying to expose people to the world of black intellect but it could have been done in a much better way. There were too many extraneous characters who did nothing to move along the plot and only served to confuse me more. The author tried to tackle every social issue (broken homes, biracial children, racism among light and dark blacks, etc.)that can be found in Black America. I would say this book is worth borrowing but not buying. I give it two stars because it gives a glimpse of a different black america but it was extremely boring.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT SOIRE BEYOND THE STANDARD FORMULA
Review: In Love Noire, Ms. Turnipseed offers a refreshing story that features real three demenional people struggling with romance and career and the difficult choices that reality offers. Ms. Turnipseed suceeds in telling a love story as most people live it, with having to juggle differing backgrounds and present circumstnaces, families, budgets, and work that sometimes doesn't stop. She delivers a robust fullbodied story using fluid prose, energetic pacing and a cast of intringuing supporting characters. I found A Love Noire to be an intriging alternative to the mltitude of formulaic novels that only manage rich beautiful, but wooden characters, with little more for plot than hemming and hawing about love and sex lived in a vacum. A Love Noire is an especially refreshing departure and beautifully written. The authentitcity of its settings provides a strong foundation to support the vivid story. The varied socioeconomic and multicultural characters will engage persons who live such lives and those for whom such variety is not commonplace. Bookclubs (and anyone) who venture to read this gem will have meaty topics to discuss. An excellent debut. Definitely looking forward to her next work.
Rating:
Summary: Now this is the kind of fiction that I want to read!
Review: It was a touching story, with complex characters and depth. I can't wait for her next novel.....
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing, tantalizing and confusing to this reader
Review: Most of this book I enjoyed. There was a sense of confusion and frustration with the characters at times. I didn't understand why the author had to put that scene in with Noire and Afrike (those who read the book know what I am talking about). I am looking forward to the sequel. But I will admit that the characters came alive off of the pages of this book. This author did a great job of revealing them to the reader.
Rating: 
Summary: Fragmented
Review: Ms. Turnipseed's debut efforts were grand, however the story was so fragmented. Subjects were interjected that never developed nor did they support any of the content that was established in the story(i.e. the implied Noire-Arike relationship/affair?). The story actually crystalized two thirds into the book at which time the cadence and language developed like a canvas of artistic expression. I would definately read her following works based upon the potential apparent in "A Love Noire".
Rating:
Summary: Well-written, but I want more
Review: Ms. Turnipseed's debut novel is wonderfully written. It's classy, sexy and a beautiful tale about these two people, polar opposites, that try to make a relationship work. I really admire how the author made this exotic Black man with a French accent and this bohemian Black woman the leading characters. I fell in love with their differences while reading this novel. I will not give away the ending, but I really felt that Noire and Innocent both allowed such minor differences to come between something so "potentially" beautiful. I love how Ms. Turnipseed handled their sexual relationship, nothing cheap, just natural and written with elegance. I really hope we get another novel featuring Noire and Innocent. I ended the book wanting more. I also had a fair share of questions. What was going on with the bisexual thing? And why did we not learn more about what was going on with it. I hope to hear more about that, plus we should learn more about why Innocent is so gun shy of commitment. He spoke of other relationships, but I never felt a definite reason for his reluctance. Yet, this is what made the story real for me. Things often end without reason. Those characters stayed with me for days after I had finished reading "A Love Noire." Kudos to Ms. Turnipseed...I look forward to future works by this author.
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