A Love of My Own

First, hats off to E. Lynn for another page turner/midnight oil burner. The story line was great and all of the characters were very well developed...even Jabar. (smile). I thoroughly enjoyed this roller coaster ride story. All of what took place in this novel is REAL....even the fiction parts of it. Thanks (as others reviewers have said) for bringing Raymond back and since Trent is not happy in this one...we know he will be back. The real life events you used....Aaliyah's death, the events of 9/11 and the oscar awards...were very key points in the book and kept me reading. I actually read this novel on vacation and what a great choice to relax and really enjoy.I don't want to give away any of the "surprises" in the book....so let me just leave it at this. You really showed out on this on E Lynn. I enjoyed it and will highly recommend it to all of the readers I know....those who can sincerely appreciate a well versed and respected author like yourself.I am proud of you. Keep these novels coming. There are a lot of writers out there....but few who can hold a match to you.(no i am not his cousin....(smile)..just a true fan for life).Lastly, I have also found "a love of my own" (JKL)...which made the title of this one....so meaningful to me/for me.Many blessings,Shunda Blocker (proud president)COF II Book ClubAtlanta, GA Chapter

In E. Lynn's latest installment, Raymond Tyler of INVISIBLE LIFEis back and working in the legal department of BLING BLING, an urban magazine, along side Zola Norwood, a very accomplished woman who runs the mag and is sleeping with the man who owns the company that publishes it, Davis McClinton. Everything would be okay with this scenerio, if Davis wasn't already married to stuck-up socialite Veronica. One thing that can be said about this novel is that there are no pretenses among the characters. Zola knows about Davis wife, and his other lovers at other ports, which is why she keeps Jabar, her slightly doofy, yet constantly horny side dish around. Davis knows that the only reason Zola's sleeping with him is to stay at the head of the publication and to keep the finances coming, so it's okay with him. Raymond has left his partner Trent because of an infidelity and walked into this circus that is causing more problems, especially when Basil pops back into the scene and feelings are starting to re-develop. Each one of these characters continue to move on in chaotic fashion, until a point is reached where they must pay the piper and face what they each are hiding from each other and themselves. The lession learned here is that the truth can be a very ugly fact when it's finally released from under numerous layers of denial and lies. As always, the characters are in sync with each other and the story flows like a river. Another winner!

I have read every one of E. Lynn Harris' books and have enjoyed each one of them, but A Love Of My Own is by far my favorite. Not only does E. Lynn bring back one of my favorite characters, Raymond Tyler, but he introduces his readers to a new one, the young, ambitious, and indomitable Zola Denise Norwood. Although Zola is a bit disillusioned when it comes to her faith in love (due to a devastating event in her past), you can't help but admire her drive with regard to her career. She is a strong Black woman who reeks of pure feminine finesse. Raymond, too, is as lovable as he always was. Having moved back to New York after a painful event in his life, he is reunited with his friend, John Basil Henderson (my all-time favorite E. Lynn character) and the sparks fly once more. Raymond is CEO of the magazine where Zola is Editor-in-Chief, and they gain a mutual respect and admiration for one another that turns into a genuine friendship. I think A Love Of My Own is some of E. Lynn's best writing. He beautifully weaves real life events into his story with taste and classs (the death of the beautiful Aaliyah and the WTC bombing) and takes his readers back to those sad events in our history and shows us how they also affect his characters. Returning in smaller roles are Yancy B, and her unforgettable mother, Madame Ava. Any of E. Lynn's devoted followers knows that he has a knack for creating characters his readers love to hate. In A Love of My Own he has done that again with Davis McClinton, Zola and Raymond's billionaire boss. But true to form, he also intersperses his books with smart, likeable folks of various ages, races and backgrounds. I can't say enough good things about this book. Really, I could go on for days. I loved it; read in it a few hours (as I have many of E. Lynn's other titles). Keep up the good work, E. Lynn Harris. You have a forever fan in me.

I've been waiting to read another novel by E. Lynn Harris since "Anyway the Wind Blows" came out. I'm not going to ruin the book for anyone who hasn't read it yet, but it was one of the best novels I've read this year.In this book, the focus is back on Raymond Tyler Jr. and a Zola Norwood, who had a small apperance in the last novel. Basil is also back along with his own issues and there are a couple of new characters that bring their own stories into play.Once I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down till I was done. There is enough deception and drama to hold anyone's interest. All in all, I loved the story line and the way the book was written. I recommend anyone who started with "Invisible Life" and the rest of the other books to finish this soap opra by reading "A Love of my Own". To those who haven't had the chance to read this book, HELLO, it came out on July 30!! What are you waiting for??!?

Raymond Tyler Jr., has returned. After having lived in Seattle, Washington with his lover Trent, Raymond has come back to the place where his heart lies, New York City. New York is a place that holds good and bad memories for him and has always been his favorite place to live. Raymond has recently gone through a pretty rough period in his life and hopes that moving to a new place will help to rejuvenate his mind and spirit. He has accepted the CEO position at a hot, up and coming urban magazine called Bling, Bling. Zola Denise Norwood has it going on. She is the innovative editor of Bling, Bling, she is beautiful and is blessed to have a family and friends that love her. Zola is only missing one thing, a man to call her own. Of course she has men but she doesn't have that man that takes her breath away or that she can call a soulmate. In A Love Of My Own, E. Lynn Harris's eighth novel, he brings us into the lives of Raymond and Zola. Also, he beautifully intertwines the September 11 tragedy and the death of R & B singer Aaliyah into the storyline and portrays them with compassion and accuracy. As a reader it was very interesting to see how these two tragic events affected Raymond, Zola and the people around them. A Love Of My Own was a wonderful book. Raymond Tyler Jr., is my favorite character and I was very pleased to see him back. I have just one complaint about this book, and that is that I finished it and now I have to wait for E. Lynn Harris's next literary offering.Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks