Flirt

August 25, 2009
Powerhouse street lit authors Brown (Twisted) and K'wan (Still Hood) team up with newbie Mitchell (Another Woman's Husband) to deliver urban women's stories that hold surprising twists and turns. In Brown's "Flirting with Disaster," Hunter College journalism student Chloe falls in love with Trey, a dude from the hood who seems too good to be true-and eventually proves as much. K'wan's "Tea 4 Two" follows Gina and Princess, both trapped in abusive relationships with men. Tired of drama and searching for true love and appreciation, the women find the answer to their problems-in each other. Mitchell's "Charge It to the Game" introduces us to Marley, a fashion designer still mourning her first love who died ten years ago. Afraid to get hurt again, Marley has a lot of rules that keep her from getting too close with others. Then one charismatic man comes into her life, moving Marley to break them all.and possibly her heart, once again. Verdict This short story collection, which explores the diverse ways in which flirting leads to unexpected consequences, will attract Brown's and K'wan's many fans and introduce Mitchell to a wider readership.-Vanessa Irvin Morris, The iSchool at Drexel University, Philadelphia

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2009
Three novellas appear hereFlirting with Disaster, by Tracy Brown; Wild Cherry, by KWan; and Twice in a Lifetime, by Angel Mitchellunder the title Flirt, which implies that these three tales are about breezy and sexy romance. They are not. A more accurate description than that which the books title suggests would be violent and horror stories. When set against the horror genres broad canvas, the extreme situations and characters indeed look natural. Of the four female lead charactersBrowns and Mitchells single protagonists, KWans twin protagonists in alternating chaptersthree are repulsively beaten by their male significant others, while the one who escapes physical punishment is instead hit by her fianc' with a most devastating personal, social, and emotional betrayal, which will forever alter her. The elements of suspense and terror are more convincing than even the few sex scenes that appear in all three stories.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)