Rating: 
Summary: Puerto Rican <--- this is how it's spelled!
Review: This book could have been 100 pages less if the author did not spend her time describing every single unnecessary detail. It was almost like the author had a page quota to meet!!! Also I grew up in Central Islip and trust there are NO mansions there not in 1979 or ever! Puerto Rican was spelled wrong purposely at least 3 different ways, and the Spanish that was used in the book was often mistranslated. Don't waste your money or time on this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Okay Read
Review: This was a well written read but the ending did not really end. It was kind of sorta happy. But there were many unanswered questions. Like what's going through Scooter's mind. This book did explore issues that other authors are afraid to touch because they are afraid it might not sell. These issues were explored i.e. interracial children where do they fit in and also being a Gay Black man. In African American communities we are sometimes afraid of these issues and act as if they don't exist. This author also touched on bulimia which some African Americans would say never exists in their community but it does and why because some of us don't think that we are beautiful. But my sisters I'm here to tell you we are the most beautiful creatures that God has placed on this earth.
Rating: 
Summary: Savor the Sangria!
Review: Tracy Price-Thompson, best-selling author of Black Coffee, delivers an intense and passionate new flavor in her sophomore novel titled Chocolate Sangria. It is a tale of friendship, family, love, secrets, betrayal and redemption.Juanita and Scooter were eternal childhood friends. Both were orphaned by their parents and left to be raised by extended family. Due to their similar circumstances they were drawn to each other. Considered outcast by residents of the projects in their Brooklyn neighborhood, other kids taunted Juanita and Scooter frequently because they were different-Juanita because of her green-eyes and light complexion and Scooter because he had "a little sugar in his tank." No matter what the circumstances they always had one another to help pick up the pieces and to comfort and support one another. They promised to be each other's friend for life. Fast-forward ten years later and their friendship is still intact. They survived life in the projects. Both are in college well on their way to achieving their dreams and career aspirations. As is their custom, they still spend a lot of time with each other, including riding public transportation to their respective schools. One day, a harrying bus experience brings a chance encounter with best friends, Jorge and Conan, which would change the lives of all four friends forever and possibly the future of Juanita and Scooter's friendship. Price-Thompson has another best-seller on her hands! Chocolate Sangria is a fast-paced, action packed, emotionally charged read. The writing is fresh, taut, descriptive and vivid. The reader uses all senses while devouring this captivating read. From the intriguing prologue, the reader is immediately immersed into the lives of the characters and anxiously anticipates what will happen next. Chocolate Sangria is complex in that Price-Thompson challenged herself to cross color and racial lines to deliver a story with multi-cultural characters and nuances while providing the reader with a believable cast. Chocolate Sangria's characters bare no resemblance to the characters of her debut novel...except that they are equally as enticing and colorful. The characters came to life on the page, drew on the reader's empathy, and affected the reader during the course of the story. I loved how Price-Thompson took me on stroll down memory lane and back to childhood with some of her scenes. In one heart wrenching scene I almost believed that Juanita was an actual person and wanted to snatch her off the pages and save her from being attacked by "Be-Be's kids." Chocolate Sangria was an exciting and explosive read! I devoured it in one sitting and shared in the characters pains while cheering for their triumphs. On the APOOO chart, Chocolate Sangria is 4.5 stars. Price-Thompson continues to hone her craft and grow as a writer and I look forward to savoring her next book. Yasmin
APOOO BookClub
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