Apple Brown Betty

"What are you looking for in a man?" That's what Desmond Rucker, the owner of the newest restaurant Cush that's located in the worst part of Asbury Park, NJ, says to freelance columnist Cydney Williams. "A man I can look at 40 years down the line and still be in love with," she replies. Cydney Williams found a chance to leave her hellish life behind her and never looks back. With a mother addicted to drugs, a stepfather trying to save her mother from addiction, and her infamous brother Shammond Slay (known in the hood simply as Slay,) who can blame her? No one knows exactly what Slay does to earn a living. However, they definitely know it's not all good considering he is ridin' dirty in a black BMW with tinted window's and Nas blaring from the system. Slay just wants to protect the woman in his life. How far Slay goes to do this is where the problem lies. Desmond Rucker can't figure out what his problem is with commitment until he meets Cydney. Together they help each other figure out how in 40 years they can share an Apple Brown Betty and stare into each other's eyes still in love. I am not sure how I felt about Apple Brown Betty. While the story was interesting and the author pulled you in, there was something that simply didn't click to me. I picked up that Slay really wasn't a thug, but rather he was misunderstood. But the premise of the story was for you to believe he was a thug and it just didn't fit. I didn't dislike the book; it just lost me some where in the middle. I think Phillip Thomas Duck gave you too much of this thug character, but when it came to the character that wasn't the case at all. I liked the title of story since that's what made me want to read it. Reviewed by Angie for Urban Reviews

Apple Brown Betty, by Phillip Thomas Duck, is a read that I found myself not able to put down. The reader is introduced to Cydney Williams, a college student who also does work as a freelance journalist. She has a chance to review "Cush," a new and thriving restaurant, located in the middle of a crime-ridden community known as Asbury Park. There is an instant connection between Cydney and Desmond Rucker, the owner of the new and hip restaurant. The "love sparks" begin to erupt and so do other issues surrounding Cydney and Desmond. Cydney has laid out a new life for herself and no one knows that this hardworking and successful woman was raised on the other side of the tracks known as Asbury Park. There are many bad memories in Asbury Park for Cydney and she is trying to leave them as just that--memories. A childhood riddled with complexities, such as the early death of her natural-born father and his best friend becoming her stepfather, a mother who has a drug problem and a brother, Shammond Slay, who often stayed in trouble as a youth and who is too overprotective to his sister's liking. An incident happened between them as kids that continues to plague Cydney and make her uncomfortable around her own brother. She would rather leave that part of her life behind her, but her brother Shammond, is determined to not let that happen--especially when Cydney informs him that she no longer wants him in her life. Desmond, Cydney's new beau, also has issues. He seemingly cannot connect with a person and form a committed relationship. When he finally reaches the point that he feels he can be one hundred percent trustful and commit to the love of his life, secrets from Cydney's past shatters him and he wonders if he can ever trust her again. Will he be able to face the issues of adversity from Cydney's past and continue his relationship with her? And will he be able to share his own secret with her about his level of noncommitment? Will she be able to come to terms with her past and stop keeping them as a secret and move on with her life? Their love seems to be a parallel to the restaurant--a beauty caught up in the harshness of their surroundings. So many heart-wrenching issues are dealt with in this story--drug abuse, possible sexual abuse, insecurity and attempted suicide. Yet at the same time, a very positive and learning experience is presented as we see Cydney and Desmond come to grips and come to see their issues for what they are. I highly recommend this book to others. The title of the novel is named after the highlighted dessert from the restaurant which is perfect because this read was certainly a sweet treat. Reviewed by Coulee Eidos APOOO BookClub

Asbury Park, New Jersey is in rapid decline. Thus freelance magazine writer Cydney Williams is elated that a new restaurant Cush is opening in her hometown when no one was taking a chance on this depressed place. She plans to write an article on it praying that it is as good as what she has heard about the chef-owner. However, she finds herself biased when she meets the owner chef Desmond Rucker, whose desserts are mouthwatering, but his body is sinful to die for. However, as Cydney ponders a relationship with the dynamic restaurateur, she worries about the decline of her once vivacious mother into an addict. She is concerned about her brother Shammond, who lives the lifestyle of the affluent but shows no inclination of how he pays his bills, which makes her worried that he is trafficking. As Cydney falls deeper in love with Desmond, her family, who she has always been there for them, threatens to betray her by destroying her chance of a lifetime of APPLE BROWN BETTY. The key to this insightful contemporary tale is Asbury Park, a dying city that gains a little life with the simple opening of a new restaurant. Readers will admire the courage of Desmond for doing this as every advisor and friend believes he is wasting money and his reputation on a losing locale. Cydney, abetted by her mother and brother, brings a deep look into a family in decline serving as a real microcosm of what is happening in many urban centers. Phillip Thomas Duck provides a powerful tale of modern day America though his strong cast including the run down city. Harriet Klausner

I waited with bated breath for PTDs third full-length novel and I wasn't disappointed. Like fine wine, he only improves with age. This story kept me riveted to the very end. Buy it, you won't be disappointed! The down side is the wait for the next. Alas, I read too fast.