Cristian Calle Calle itibaren Soomar Kandani, Pakistan
Can you mix with business with pleasure? Newcomer Yoshe brings us a raw novel. While it’s” hood “and has a street edge to it I say it’s a different read as it shows the ins and outs that correction officers have to deal with on the job. I like the fact that each chapter is a character telling their side of the story. The book goes from first person to third person and is done in a way that works well. The way it’s written, you either hate the characters or love them. We meet Sierra Howell a correction officer at Rikers Island on 5 North. She is independent, has a great job and a plan for her life. She has some haters and takes it all in stride. Sierra has some baggage steaming from a past failed relationship. Sierra takes her career seriously and doesn’t break rules…that’s until she meets Rasheed Gordon a true product of his environment. Rasheed has a swagger about him that not even Sierra can resist, but there is more to him that the eye can see. I have to admit I found myself wishing they could get over their hang-ups and become a couple. Tune in to see if that happens. The supporting cast is connected in one way or another - this makes for a good story to see how they all intertwine. It was good to see that some of the characters learned from their mistakes and made changes for the better. Yoshe does the writing in a way that you are not able to pin point who will come out on top. There are many twisted plots that will make you shake your head and say, wow I did not see that coming. This story was a good story however; the biggest drawback for me was the fact that every single character talked slang 24/7. While most were from the streets and that was understood, it just made for some hard reading. Even the grandparents talk slang so I am thinking ok they know they too old for that! So I was saying as I was reading “nobody talks slang all the time”. At some point you have to turn it off - like at work maybe??? I look forward to reading more from Yoshe in the future as she has the knack for storytelling. I just hope she tones down the slang next time so it will be an easier read. SiStar Tea ARC Book Club Inc. 3.5 Star Rating