Schemin' Confessions of a Gold Digger

I enjoyed this wild ride called Schemin. It's been a long time since I stayed up all night just to finish reading anything, yet I saw the sun come up reading this one.

I first read this sizzling debut by Ms. Blackstone, last summer, and have since revisited "Schemin", after reading her most recent installment, "Shortchanged." Both readings of "Schemin" yielded the same page-turning, edge of your seat experience. From the streets of Baltimore, we are introduced to Jalita, a biracial bombshell, who decides to "pimp" herself to the highest bidder, after dealing with her share of pitfalls. She finds herself in the company of an engaged NBA player, Wes. The struggle for control between the two main characters, provides insight into what wealth and power can do to people, and it proved that "absolute power does corrupt absolutely". I appreciate the fact that the author presents another side to the gold-digging, "kept" lifestyle, showing that the rules of karma are always present. Being someone who frequents the DC/MD/Va area, I appreciated the research the author put into this book, her attention to detail is remarkable. Also, I give her high marks for her cover art and editing, things that can be a bit "iffy" with first time authors. Its obvious that a great deal of thought was put into her overall presentation. I also like the unimaginable ending. To describe it as "twisted", would be an understatement. AS for the reader who described the book as "choppy, unrealistic, and reminiscent of the climax in the movie "The Brothers", I disagree on all accounts. Might I suggest that you go to any of the nite spots after an athletic event, and you will witness behaviors that mimic the Jalita's and Wes's of the world. True life is often more bizarre than fiction, and Ms. Blackstone told someone's story fabulously. I would encourage any reader who found this book enjoyable, to read her newest installment, "Shortchanged", which is a sequel to "Schemin." The gold digging is packaged in male form, and the drama continues. She also gives her readers another fierce book cover, with a gorgeous cover-model.

Jalita Harrison is a hot tempered biracial woman who becomes jaded due to adverse circumstances. When she meets an NBA player who is engaged, she becomes impressed by material things and has an affair with him. This book is an intentionally comical look at how we judge people based on what they have, not who they are, as well as moral issues tied to the fast money and bling bling syndrome. Lessons about greed, lust and life are implied within comedy and clearly stated at the end. Also, I do not agree with one reviewer who stated the dialogue was choppy and the plot was like The Brothers. Each personality was distinct and luminescent, and each dialgue style fit the characters appropriately, based on his or her background. The storyline is not cookie cutter, and that's what makes this read so entertaining and interesting. After meeting the author, I found out the story is based on some real circumstances. (She also researched the topic thoroughly.) In my opinion, one reviewer was overly critical. The author did well to protect the "not so innocent" through the main characters. The focus is girl power, and I hope many people give this book a shot for the big point, which is a huge warning. No doubt, some women will be angry that the author opened up dialogue about females with this mindset (groupies and gold diggers), and players who play a part in "the game." I look forward to reading Short Changed, the sequel. I hope many people give this book a shot because a critical message is intertwined within drama, drama, and more drama! A woman who wants to earn her own by her own merit should be able to see the light and remain encouraged; kudos.

-From "Pay-less" to Paid For. Schemin' is the story of a black woman, Jalita, who decides that in the absence anything GOOD in her life, she's going to create her own fate. She's been blessed with a beautiful face and figure, and an obviously sharp but misdirected mind. She decides to capitalize on what she thinks she's worth, and lands near the top of the heap with a professional basketball player. Along the way, the book introduces us to a number of characters and notches in her belt, who ultimately determine her path. We meet her mother (the word is loosely used), her rivals, her lovers, and eventually, her mentors. The book is a wild ride on the wild side, and ends up with a woman who eventually realizes that all that glitters on the end of a gold digger's shovel is not...you know the rest. The story wraps up with a bit of a shocker, but oddly, the shocker, as surprising as it is, is only half the prize. The real treasure is in the last five pages, but, , not nearly as satisfying unless you read the first 300. Don't cheat yourself; do the work, you'll be glad you did! Suffice it to say, the author has done her homework, and even though the book seems to stretch credulity, it doesn't. These people represent as much a real slice of human life as any others. The writing is compact and forceful, done in a first person format. We see the world through Jalita's jaded, but uncannily omnipresent eyes. She offers straightforward opinions and rationale, without embellishment, that make sense. There are no odd leaps of logic or faith, and she provides enough background for the reader that her decisions flow naturally. I enjoyed the book, and devoured it for its style and content. As a reader, I appreciated the author reveling in her craft. As a woman, I found parts of the book disturbing. The book is about a woman who decides that money and `getting paid' is her goal. Of course, people decided to prostitute themselves for a number of reasons, for a number of currencies (money, influence, social standing, power). As much as I wanted to understand Jalita, or people like her, I found myself, in the end, unable to get a grasp of what made her tick. At its heart, this is a story, not a tutorial, which is as it should be. Presumably, this is what makes Jalita so successful at her vocation. I was uncomfortable with her, as a person, and perhaps, that was the intention of the book. I think that that discomfort is a good thing, because its is that kind of sand in the oyster that makes the most beautiful pearls. This book is a pearl of the first water. Angela Hailey Black Butterfly Review

Great for young girls caught up in wanting to be "fast" this book offers many lessons and if you like drama, you will love this book. although the page count is more than whats out here (a good thing)this book reads quick with lessons that linger well after youve completed your read. I give this the "around the world and back, snap!"