Rating: 
Summary: I Love You for So Many Reasons and for All Seasons
Review: In Lori Bryant-Woolridge's sophomore novel, she explores love in its many forms; the capacity to love, who we love and the fine line between friendship and infidelity. Melanie Hitts is an up-and-coming interior decorator who has received some notoriety, has a handsome, successful fiancée' and the kind of life a well educated woman from an established African American family is expected to have. But in front of friends and family in Washington D.C., she breaks off her upcoming nuptials at her engagement party and returns to New York on the pretense of furthering her career. Will is devastated, as is Melanie's family, not understanding why she did this. Will, despite his humiliation and the public rejection will not give up on the woman who has captured his heart. Melanie, meanwhile has snagged a plum assignment with an internationally known architectural firm run by John Carlson, a powerhouse in the world of architecture.It was her sharp tongue, drive and the fact that she was not intimidated by him that drew Melanie to John. This beautiful, intelligent, witty young African American woman, eighteen years his junior intrigues him and fascinates in all the ways that should and should not and shakes up his white bread, privileged life. Melanie feels easy with John despite his being Caucasian and older; he complements her and feeds her artistic side in ways that Will, though as loving and attentive and perfect as he is, just does not. What is happening here? Is it possible to be in love with two men? Is it love that she feels for John? Ironically, Melanie has chastised her best friend; materialistic, self-centered Candace for indulging in affairs with married men. But this is not an affair, is it? Both John and Melanie rationalize their need for each other as a friendship that is beneficial for the both of them that still allows them to love and appreciate their respective mates even more so. Now sure of herself, Melanie feels she is ready to be Will's wife. But will he understand if she keeps John in her life? John's wife, in many ways, a typical upstate suburban wife, has lived in her husband's shadow; repressing her need to express herself, and allowing him to make major decisions, the most recent, uprooting her from her safe haven in the country to move into New York City. Her need to nurture brings her in contact with a young teen-ager who lacks parental guidance and is prone to getting into trouble. Meanwhile high-maintenance Candace, falls in love with Will's best friend, Griffin, a struggling actor whose career is starting to take off and who is also performance poet. These secondary characters complement the leading characters, rounding out a plot that approaches issues of love in subjective and objective tones. At her appearance this past April in Oakland, Bryant-Woolridge talked about what she wanted to convey in this novel. How people come into our lives, challenge us, change us and the different kinds of love that are available to us and the need for all them in our lives. How those that love us should be willing to share us with others that we love. Admittedly in a perfect world, this would be ideal; there is a lot of love to be shared. But would your mate understand the need for you to have another person in your life that makes you happy? This book will no doubt spark debate about the age old debate regarding men and women being "friends". This reviewer is pleased to have given this book a try, sold by the author's eloquent sales pitch, not relegating it to just one more interracial story that has saturated the market. This is so much more as this book allows readers to look past the superficial things that trip us up in such a story. A big plus for this novel was the poetry of Teddy Bell that was sprinkled throughout the book. The handsome Bell, who accompanied Bryant-Woolridge at the reading and recited some of his poems, is possibly the inspiration and model for Griffin character who has the same last name. This book has been declared one for the top chick-lit reads of 2004 and is a worthwhile read. I am looking forward to Bryant-Woolridge's next offering. Dera Williams
APOOO BookClub
Rating: 
Summary: Title to be Revised
Review: Meet Melanie Hitts, an individual who has been known to turn more than a few heads, not only with her looks but with her talent too. Melanie is in a tangled web and can't decide whether or not to become a Mrs. or remain Ms. Hitts. She managed to get Will Freedman's attention and a marriage proposal. They have a whirlwind relationship that escalates a little too fast for her, as a result she calls off the marriage at the most inopportune time - during the engagement party. Suddenly there is an overwhelming feeling that getting married would impede on her dream to become a top interior designer. Feeling the need to get away from the mess she's made, she moves to New York to follow her dream and attempts to make a name for her in the interior design business.
While in New York, Melanie gets another man's attention. A presentation to one of the top architectural firms tests Melanie's ability to be spontaneous, yet it also gives her an opportunity to strut her stuff and show them what she's working with. While giving the presentation, she meets the head honcho - John Carlson, an older, married white man who manages to ruffle her feathers a little and vice versa. The end result is more than either ever imagined.
There's a (not so obvious) message regarding insecurities people have a tendency to deal with. Sometimes we don't know they exist until someone else brings them to our attention. The people you associate with can either make you or break you. Melanie's relationships proved to bring both fulfillment and disappointment. As a result, she's forced to decide which is most important.
Hitts & Mrs. incorporates a few subplots: Candace (Melanie's best friend) and her inability to keep a "good" man, Sharon (John's wife) and her struggles with voicing her opinions and Amanda (a troubled teen) who has issues with her mother. Bryant-Woolridge almost lost me with some of the subplots but somewhere in the middle managed to save herself and skillfully tie them into the story. In the end, it all worked out and hence the story won my approval.
Reviewed by Esther "Ess" Mays of Loose Leaves Book Review
Rating:
Summary: How can you love two people at the same time?
Review: Melanie Hitts didn't expect this to happen, especially after she broke off her engagement with the man of her dreams. Wanting to have it all, she moves from Washington D.C., back to New York City with her best friend, with dreams of becoming a well-known designer in tow. As fate would have it, Melanie does acquire her dream, but at what cost? Her ex-fiancée isn't ready to give up on their happiness, and she isn't too sure that what she did was the right thing. Consistently badgering her best friend because she only dates married men, Melanie finds herself questioning her own judgment when a new man attracts her attention. One problem: he is married, and white. Can friendship and love be parallel in a society that doesn't understand? Lori Bryant-Wooldridge accepts the challenge of proving society wrong, and showing that love does conquer all. HITTS AND MRS. will have you looking deep into your soul for those answers. One thing's for sure - when pursuing Hitts, look out for the Mrs... Reviewed by Belinda
Of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: Definately a Hit
Review: Melanie Hitts is a woman that has the world by the tail, or does she? In Lori Bryant-Woolridge's, Hits and Mrs., Melanie is engaged to Will, a successful, handsome, caring and considerate man who worships the ground she walks on. At the beginning of the book Melody finds herself at their engagement party making an announcement that she has decided to forego marriage much to Will's embarrassment. Immediately, she leaves Washington, D.C. and rushes off to New York City to pursue a career as an interior designer. When a prominent, Caucasian, and very married architect named John Carlson takes Melanie under his wing, they find themselves sharing more than career interests. As their friendship grows, Melanie must do some soul searching and decide if she will give into the ever persistent Will or into her forbidden desires for John.
Hitts and Mrs. is a well-crafted romantic novel. The characters were believable and the book held my interest from beginning to end. In additin, there were several sub-plots which were well-developed; each exploring relationships on several different levels. Overall, I found Hitts and Mrs. to be witty, exciting and wonderfully entertaining. Bryant-Woolridge does not disappoint.
If you are looking for an enjoyable romantic read, I say do not miss picking-up a copy of Lori Bryant-Woolridge's, Hitts and Mrs.
T. RHYTHM KNIGHT
APOOO BookClub
Rating: 
Summary: *****MUST READ*****
Review: Not only was this book well written it was captivating. If you're looking for a book that you absolutly have to finish, this is it! Hitts & Mrs. is a Big Hit without a doubt. The twist and turns in the relationships will keep you going until the end.
Run out and buy now!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Stinkbomb!
Review: Peeyew! What stinks?!? This book. I was willing to ignore the author's habit of telling instead of showing. Many times we're asked to believe Melanie feels nervous/depressed/anxious/confused simply because the writer tells us so. I was willing to ignore the cesspool of dead cliches and stale metaphors. Eyes always search rooms "hungrily" and characters' hearts constantly "pitter pat" with anxiety. I was willing to ignore the convenient plot points undertaken so that the author wouldn't have to engage in more muscular writing. For example, not one but two main characters (Mrs. Carlson and Will Freedman) are orphaned when their parents die simultaneously in catastrophic accidents. No need to write about the in-laws! Whew! I was even willing to read past the fact that the author expects us to like a main character (John Carlson) that engages in patently unlikeable behavior before we learn anything really charming about him. Next time, the author should try to make us like John Carlson before she has him shouting things like "What the hell are you doing here?" at a teenage girl. But what finally stopped me cold were the glaring editorial errors such as "Timberland" boots being described as "Timberlines." That's just sloppy. If her editor wasn't willing to read the book -- and I don't blame her; the plot is drier than zweiback toast -- why should we? This book is amateurish, written by someone who doesn't read very much for people who don't expect very much.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely a hit!
Review: The author did a wonderful job of portraying some real intense emotions in this book with such discretion and candor. She leaves you with plenty of "food for thought" about situations in which we are quick to offer an opinion or judgment. If faced with the same situations in our own lives, we would not be so quick to make up our minds. There is a refreshing balance between the romance and the drama, which makes this a great book to read. I loved it!
Rating:
Summary: This is not a hit
Review: This book could not hold my attention,I would try to read it and fall to sleep don't waste your money on this book it is not worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: This book was a miss not a hit (pun intend!)it was so boring I could not even hardly finish with it. The authors first book "Read between the lies" was excellent, that is what prompted me to buy this book, she changed her style of writing this book was your typical romance. Go back to what you know best.
Rating:
Summary: a great read with hidden messages
Review: This is an easy read with messages throughout. I liked how the author connected each character with different storylines. While reading the book, we are able to see the characters grow and accept their strenghs and weaknesses. Mrs. Bryant-Woolridge is a talented author. Read it and you won't be disappointed.
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