- Paperback: 416 pages (I read e-book)
- Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (June 7, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1439194254
- ISBN-13: 978-1439194256
- SOURCE: Received Advance e-book from Victoria Christopher Murray.
About the Book:
What would you do for five million dollars? Adam and Evia Langston have lived in their own little garden of Eden since the two married at the age of seventeen. Working their way up from the humblest of beginnings, the Langstons have thrived beyond anything they could have ever imagined. Now they live in the finest home, drive the best cars, and indulge in all the trimmings that signify their massive success.
But then the recession hits and rips apart the family’s financial stability. Unable to support their three children and other relatives, Adam and Evia find themselves drowning in financial trouble and teetering on the brink of complete disaster. With nowhere to turn, the Langstons have no idea what to do.
Until Shay-Shaunté, Evia’s multimillionaire boss, comes to the Langstons with a five-million-dollar offer that seems so hard to refuse. Will the Langstons make this deal? Or will they recognize that the glitter of five million dollars may be far from gold?
Victoria Christopher Murray always knew she would become an author, even as she was taking an unlikely path to that destination. A native of Queens, Victoria first left New York to attend Hampton University where she majored in Communication Disorders. After graduating, Victoria attended New York University where she received her MBA.
Victoria spent ten years in Corporate America before she tested her entrepreneurial spirit. She opened a Financial Services Agency for Aegon, USA where she managed the number one division for nine consecutive years. However, Victoria never lost the dream to write and when the "bug" hit her again in 1997, she answered the call.
Victoria originally self published Temptation. "I wanted to write a book as entertaining as any book on the market, put God in the middle, and have the book still be a page-turner. I wasn't writing to any particular genre - I didn't even know Christian fiction existed. I just wanted to write about people I knew and characters I could relate to."
In 2000, Time Warner published Temptation. Temptation made numerous best sellers list and remained on the Essence bestsellers list for nine consecutive months. In 2001, Temptation was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in Outstanding Literature.
Since Temptation, Victoria has written nine other adult novels, including: JOY, Grown Folks Business, The Ex Files, and the popular Jasmine Cox Larson Bush series. She was a contributor to the first Christian fiction anthology, Blessed Assurance and the Contributing Editor for the Aspire Women of Color Bible published by Zondervan. Victoria has received numerous awards including the Golden Pen Award for Best Inspirational Fiction and the Phyllis Wheatley Trailblazer Award for being the pioneer in African American Christian Fiction. Since 2007, Victoria has won six African American Literary Awards for best novel, best Christian fiction and Author of the Year - Female.
In 2008, Victoria's first novels in her Christian fiction teen series - The Divine Divas - were published. "I was concerned with what our young ladies were reading. I decided to do something about that - give them stories full of drama, but with a message." The Divine Divas has already been optioned to become a television series.
Victoria splits her time between Los Angeles and Washington D.C. In Los Angeles, she attends Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church under the spiritual tutelage of Dr. Beverly "BAM" Crawford and in Washington, D.C., she fellowships at Metropolitan Baptist Church under Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, Jr. She is also a member of the Long Beach Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
(source: http://www.victoriachristophermurray.com/author.html)
Adam was not working anymore. Luckily Evia had a job at Ferossity. The owner and boss Shay-Shaunte' showed Evia a five million dollar check. It was made right out to Evia. She just has to accept the terms. What were the terms? Would she accept them? Five million dollars is very tempting that is for sure, but are the terms worth it?
Evia's grandmother had always told her that when something just doesn't seem right, you should really listen to your "alarm" that tells you to watch out. Yes, Evia and Adam were in a world of trouble with their financial situation. They were struggling with paying their house payment, tuition at the children's school, and Adam's mother's care. Adam did not want people to know that they were in financial trouble. He especially didn't want their children to know. Their daughters had a big party coming up that they wanted their parents to throw. There was no way Adam was going to let them down. He was determined that he was going to get a job and be back in good financial standing. He knew what it was like growing up and having nothing. He didn't want that for his children. Did he get a job? You will have to read to find out what happens.
Victoria Christopher Murray really made me think. What would I do if I was offered 5 million dollars on the terms that were offered?
I started The Deal, the Dance, and the Devil on one night and read till I couldn't keep my eyes open. I got back at the book the next night and finished it late into the night! I was totally engrossed in this book and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next! Victoria Christopher Murray did an excellent job developing the characters and really pulling me in to the story. This is a page turner that I highly recommend that you buy!
My Rating:
Disclaimer: I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist. They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.
About the Author:
Victoria Christopher Murray always knew she would become an author, even as she was taking an unlikely path to that destination. A native of Queens, Victoria first left New York to attend Hampton University where she majored in Communication Disorders. After graduating, Victoria attended New York University where she received her MBA.
Victoria spent ten years in Corporate America before she tested her entrepreneurial spirit. She opened a Financial Services Agency for Aegon, USA where she managed the number one division for nine consecutive years. However, Victoria never lost the dream to write and when the "bug" hit her again in 1997, she answered the call.
Victoria originally self published Temptation. "I wanted to write a book as entertaining as any book on the market, put God in the middle, and have the book still be a page-turner. I wasn't writing to any particular genre - I didn't even know Christian fiction existed. I just wanted to write about people I knew and characters I could relate to."
In 2000, Time Warner published Temptation. Temptation made numerous best sellers list and remained on the Essence bestsellers list for nine consecutive months. In 2001, Temptation was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in Outstanding Literature.
Since Temptation, Victoria has written nine other adult novels, including: JOY, Grown Folks Business, The Ex Files, and the popular Jasmine Cox Larson Bush series. She was a contributor to the first Christian fiction anthology, Blessed Assurance and the Contributing Editor for the Aspire Women of Color Bible published by Zondervan. Victoria has received numerous awards including the Golden Pen Award for Best Inspirational Fiction and the Phyllis Wheatley Trailblazer Award for being the pioneer in African American Christian Fiction. Since 2007, Victoria has won six African American Literary Awards for best novel, best Christian fiction and Author of the Year - Female.
In 2008, Victoria's first novels in her Christian fiction teen series - The Divine Divas - were published. "I was concerned with what our young ladies were reading. I decided to do something about that - give them stories full of drama, but with a message." The Divine Divas has already been optioned to become a television series.
Victoria splits her time between Los Angeles and Washington D.C. In Los Angeles, she attends Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church under the spiritual tutelage of Dr. Beverly "BAM" Crawford and in Washington, D.C., she fellowships at Metropolitan Baptist Church under Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, Jr. She is also a member of the Long Beach Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
(source: http://www.victoriachristophermurray.com/author.html)
My Review:
Evia and Adam Langston met when they were very young. I laughed when I saw that Evia called him "Banana-Pudding-Guy"! LOL! They lived in "Barry Farm which was the oldest African American neighborhood in DC and it was still ninety-nine percent black and one hundred percent poor." (e-book location 205-11) It was a very high crime and drug area. Something happened and things moved along much faster than they anticipated. Adam's mother Ruby was very good to Evia and treated her like her own--unlike Evia's own mother. They got married and had the twin girls and later a little boy. They were doing well for a while, but their situation was changing and they were falling fast. Adam was not working anymore. Luckily Evia had a job at Ferossity. The owner and boss Shay-Shaunte' showed Evia a five million dollar check. It was made right out to Evia. She just has to accept the terms. What were the terms? Would she accept them? Five million dollars is very tempting that is for sure, but are the terms worth it?
Evia's grandmother had always told her that when something just doesn't seem right, you should really listen to your "alarm" that tells you to watch out. Yes, Evia and Adam were in a world of trouble with their financial situation. They were struggling with paying their house payment, tuition at the children's school, and Adam's mother's care. Adam did not want people to know that they were in financial trouble. He especially didn't want their children to know. Their daughters had a big party coming up that they wanted their parents to throw. There was no way Adam was going to let them down. He was determined that he was going to get a job and be back in good financial standing. He knew what it was like growing up and having nothing. He didn't want that for his children. Did he get a job? You will have to read to find out what happens.
Victoria Christopher Murray really made me think. What would I do if I was offered 5 million dollars on the terms that were offered?
I started The Deal, the Dance, and the Devil on one night and read till I couldn't keep my eyes open. I got back at the book the next night and finished it late into the night! I was totally engrossed in this book and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next! Victoria Christopher Murray did an excellent job developing the characters and really pulling me in to the story. This is a page turner that I highly recommend that you buy!
My Rating:
5/5 diamonds - Page Turner - highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist. They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.
Where to Find Victoria Christopher Murray:
She is also on tour!!!!! Here is her schedule:
Jun 6
BARNES & NOBLE
1701 Mallory Lane
Brentwood,TN
7:00PM
Jun 7
BARNES& NOBLE
4100 Summit Plaza Drive
Louisville,KY
7:00PM
Jun 8
KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
14 West 10th Street
Kansas City,MO
6:30PM
Jun 9
LEFT BANK BOOKS
399 N. Euclid Ave
St. Louis,MO
7:00PM
Jun 10
TATTERED COVER
2526 East Colfax Avenue
Denver,CO
7:30PM
Jun 12
LA UNIQUE AFRICAN AMERICAN BOOKS & CULTURAL CENTER
111 N 6th Street
Camden,NJ
3:00PM
Jun 16
BARNES & NOBLE / UNION STATION
50 Massachusetts Avenue NE
Washington,DC
5:00PM
Jun 17
AFRI-WARE BOOKS
440 S. Ridgeland Avenue
Oak Park,IL
6:30PM
Jun 18
GREAT MIDWEST BOOK FEST 2011
Terri Lynn's
4740 W. Bradley Rd.
Milwaukee,WI
1:00PM
Jun 20
BOOKS-A-MILLION
8108 Abercorn Street
Savannah,GA
7:00PM
Jun 21
BOOKS-A-MILLION/THOMASVILLE VILLAGE SQUARE
3521-E Thomasville Road
Tallahassee,FL
7:00PM
Jun 22
BOOKS-A-MILLION
9400 Atlantic Boulevard
Jacksonville,FL
7:00PM
Jun 23
FAITH& FICTION RETREAT
Ponte Verda,FL
12:00AM
Jun 28
CARVER SCHOOL ROAD BRANCH
4915 Lansing Drive
Winston-Salem,NC
7:00PM
Jun 30
BAYOU SOUL WRITERS AND READER'S CONFERENCE
New Orleans,LA
12:00AM
Jul 7
SCHULER BOOKS & MUSIC
2820 Towne Center Blvd.
Lansing,MI
7:00PM
(I can't wait for this one!!!! I will be there!!!)
Jul 9
WALMART
11930 Acton Lane
Waldorf,,MD
11:00AM
Jul 23
AFRAMERICAN BOOKSTORE
3226 Lake Street
Omaha,NE
3:00PM
This one sounds pretty interesting and I wonder all it all turns out. You will love Shuler Books...one of my favorite stores.
ReplyDeleteWait. Cheryl, are you located in Michigan? Let me find out all this time we are neighbors.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I am wondering what the deal was and if it was worth $5M.
I can't wait to go Staci! Yes, Marie, I am in Michigan!
ReplyDeleteI'm in Michigan too!
ReplyDelete