Trouble down the Road

Move over Desperate Housewives

What we have here is "Desperate Husbands and Wives." A fun, absorbing novel chockful of intriguing characters and a page-turning plot. This is a well-written soap opera for thinking readers, who like their dramas smart and their characters real. The writing is smooth, clean and generously sprinkled with witty observations about people and life that will have readers nodding their heads in recognition. This one is not to be missed. Would be PERFECT for lively bookclubs discussions and debates.

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Love thy neighbor, but keep one eye open!

The quips 'you're too close for comfort', and 'give me breathing room' is par for for a course in a specific melodrama written by one of the African American's most prolific writers. To wit: How secure would you be living next door to your ex-wife, your mother-in-law is living a few doors down the street, eye candy is in the vicinity just waiting on a chance to jump your bones along with a few other neighbors with ulterior motives? Do you try your best to keep your shirt on in lieu of succumbing to the wiles and wacky ways that temptation would have you privy to? Author Bettye Griffin likes to keep it a communal affair with her new book 'Trouble Down the Road', which she manages to successfully melds characters from two of her previous novels, 'No More Trouble', and 'The People Next Door'. In my opinion, character driven stories works best when there's enough conflict and contrast to allow drama to be pronounced and provocative. On both accounts the author does a credible job. Two close for comfort is only a cliche with good intent, but Ms Griffith manages to turn the heat up a bit allowing intensity to simmer a bit until the fare threatens to boil over! The decision determining who comes to dinner depend on how Bradley and Suzanne Betancourt deal with adversity fueling mayhem and madness.

Talking about plot twists, this story is off the chain! Hold on to your chair as you read, hoping that you don't have trouble keeping up with this large cast of characters and impromptu change of paces. The mayhem is triggered by the fact that Suzanne Betancourt is married to her former boss, radiologist Bradley Betancourt, and, in a bad luck situation gone awry, lives next door to Bradley's ex-wife, Lisa, and her second husband and their children. The plot is given a riveting turn of events when she suspects that Micheline Trent, the vixen wife of Bradley's golfing buddy, wants her man. The authors does a credible job of allowing Micheline to not to get off scott free by giving ample proof that she's harboring ill-will of her own. Adding to the mix is Micheline son who marry's Suzanne's pregnant sister. The madness will prove to be worth your time by the time you get to the coda of this yarn.

Tempted as I am to tell more of this book, I stop here because unlike other reviewers who tell too much, I want you to know that THIS is one of the author's best and should be read by you to see what I see! It could easily be one that others would deem conflicting, but the brilliant ploy here is the fact that Ms Griffin gives her readers a chance to embrace characters segued into a suspenseful story takes skill and a sense of what readers want in a story that keeps you wondering what will happen next. Inasmuch as Ms Griffin manages to pack a punch into the eye of this hurricane, it's a testament to imagery that shouldn't fail. But alas, there are lessons to be learned here -- loyalty, redemption and what it takes to avoid temptation. The Betancourts are better of because of them. If you're a Bettye Griffin fan, she didn't disappoint you...if this happen to be your first novel by her, then you may be compelled to learn more about her and read any of her previous work. I've read several of them and will definitely recommend that you read this one!


Reviewed by Alvin C. Romer
The Romer Review

TO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

I MUST SAY, AT FIRST I WAS NOT FEELING THIS BOOK. WHEN I STARTED OFF, I WAS LIKE OH NO THERE ARE WAY TO MANY CHARACTERS TO TRY AND KEEP TRACK OF. BUT, SINCE I AM NOT ONE TO GIVE UP SO EASILY, I STUCK WITH IT, AND WAS GLAD I DID. AFTER FINALLY GETTING ALL OF THE COUPLES RIGHT AND THEIR CHILDREN, I WAS ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON THE STORY OF THE BOOK. I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS READER THAT THIS BOOK IS LIKE A SOAP OPERA. MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS WAS SUZANNE AND BRAD. I MUST SAY I WAS SUPRISED THAT BRAD DID WHAT HE DID. THE STORY LINE WITH NORELL AND VIC WAS GREAT, BUT I WAS HOPING FOR A LITTLE MORE STORY WITH THEM. IF YOU CAN STICK IT OUT, I THINK YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS IS A GREAT READ ALSO. ENJOY........

More Money More Problems,

The Betancourts of Jacksonville are among the elite in the community, with their champagne taste and caviar dreams. Living the life they've always dreamed, it couldn't get any better. On the outside looking in it's all peaches and cream. Underneath the surface, dealing with drama from family members and insecurities is placing a strain on Brad and Suzanne's marriage, which may lead to infidelity.

"Trouble Down the Road" was a good read. There were plenty of issues and drama that comes along with having that all mighty dollar. I enjoyed it. It will amaze you some of the actions that were taking place in this novel. Nice summer read that will pass the time.

Reviewed by: Tange
3.5 stars

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