That Devil's No Friend of Mine

I confess that she is a good author but this book missed the mark. I always like to support my home girl (we are both Denverites) because she normally pours out her soul but this book is just all over the place. I had to read at least more than half of the book before it started to move and then it dragged too slow for me. All of the characters were so dysfunctional and had their own story which was so boring. Sure, many of them had a relationship with the Bishop which I found hard to believe. It might have been a better read if she had focused a little more on the bishop before she delved into the story. Nora and Cole was totally out of whack and did not fit at all. I hope through this pandemic that she will find the time to carve out another like her masterpiece "Don't want No Sugar". I was happy to let this one die.

Bishop Fontaine is dead. While others are mourning his death, his only child, 29-year-old Kristine, is secretly rejoicing. She's not rejoicing the loss of his life, but rather the birth of her freedom. No more curfews. No more drab, homey clothing. No more oppression. A chance to have friends, and more importantly - a man! Lamar Brown, Bishop's friend and business partner, also sees the death of Bishop as a form of freedom - freedom to pursue the one thing he wants most, Kristine Fontaine. Despite his love, loyalty and respect for Bishop, not to mention his own wife, he can't shake his feelings for Kristine. Rhonda Brown has had her suspicions. She's always hoped that they were unfounded. After all, she stepped in and played the role of mother to Kristine after the death of her mother. Kristine even calls her husband, Lamar, Uncle Lamar. They're practically family, right? But that doesn't stop the nagging feeling that there is something more there between her husband and Kristine. Bishop Fontaine held a special place in Rayne Fitzgerald's heart. Four years ago he helped to get the monkey off her back - heroin to be exact. Once a junkie, Rayne is now a blues singer on the track to bigger things. And she has Bishop to thank for that. With him now gone, is she strong enough to keep that monkey off her back? A role model is what Bishop was to Cole `The Hammer' Burkette, a pro boxer. Even with the fortune and fame, he was someone Cole could always talk to, be encouraged by, and aspire to be like. Without his mentor, is Cole down for the count? One man...Five lives. "That Devil's No Friend of Mine" spends its energy exploring the tension, uncertainty and growth in its characters. This intriguing novel works on many levels, touching on the themes of drug abuse, molestation, love, life and death. Mason delivers a highly enjoyable account of five lives influenced by the life and death of one person. "That Devil's No Friend of Mine" is a book worth taking a look at. Reviewed by: Toni

Successful mortician Bishop Fontaine was known as a loving father and caring friend. But most didn't know how manipulative and controlling he was to the people closest to him. When Bishop passes away, the lives of five people are forever changed. Bishop's only child Kristine really misses her father but she also has a sigh of relief because she can finally live her own life. Lamar was like the little brother Bishop never had and acted as an uncle to Kristine. He and his wife Rhonda helped raise Kristine. Now that Kristine is a grown woman and Bishop is dead, Lamar wonders if he can finally act on the romantic feelings he has for her. Lamar's wife Rhonda is devastated by Bishop's death but she's even more suspicious of how Lamar looks at Kristine. She hopes that her worst fears aren't coming true. Cole is a boxer and is a distant cousin to Bishop. Cole saw Bishop as the perfect role model but his supermodel wife Nora saw otherwise. Cole and Nora's marriage becomes troubled due to Nora's dark obsession. Rayne is a local nightclub singer who is now clean and sober thanks to Bishop's help. But now that Bishop is gone, will she hit rock bottom again? That Devil's No Friend of Mine is an excellent novel by J. D. Mason. Mason expertly shows how one man affected the lives of so many people. Each of the characters are good people from the outside looking in, but they all had deeply rooted flaws once you examined them further. When reading this book, you'll wonder what will be the final outcome of all of the characters. Readers will definitely feel all of the emotional drama as this story unfolds. Mason also did a wonderful job of creating a very realistic ending to each of the character's stories that won't disappoint. That Devil's No Friend of Mine is an emotionally charged and entertaining novel that will satisfy J. D. Mason's current and future legion of fans. Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for Urban Reviews

J.D. Mason is one of my favorite authors. She continues to bring wonderfully, lyrically moving stories and this one is no different. When a respected undertaker by the name of Bishop passes, quite a few of his near and dear ones are shocked and mourn his passing. Except his daughter,Kristin, who feels an unexpected sense of freedom. She sets her eyes on her handyman, Tauris, who finds her equally attractive. However, she's got an ex-lover who won't leave her alone and he's got a torch for a tortured blues singer, Rayne, who's figting her past herion addition not just day by day, but minute by minute. Bishop was the only man who had managed to keep her clean, and when her ex-supplier, quasi-friend shows up, temptation dogs her every thought and step. Can Tauris finally face the fact that Rayne is not the woman he dreams her to be and appreciate a ride or die chick like Kristine? Or will Kristine's ex-lover, who is married, learn that no means no? Will Rayne step off that fine line of sobriety or slip down that slippery slope of addiction? Along with the primary characters, J.D. does a wonderful job of adding sub characters that are just as compelling as her main characters. I don't know if I agree with another review who said that the wrap ups were predictable because I thought she handled them well. All I know is, JD, keep them coming. I've been a fan since your first book and will probably always be a fan!

Kristine Fontaine felt the cloud dissipate the day her father was buried. At the age of twenty-nine, she never left home because she did not want to abandon her father after the death of her mother years earlier. It was a burden being the only child of Bishop, who was impassive and controlling. Kristine is looking forward to life out from under her father's thumb, but she has another millstone she needs to shake. Lamar, Bishop's long-time friend and business partner, has secrets of his own, which he finds harder to suppress now that Bishop is gone. Cole and Nora are a powerful celebrity couple. Cole, a relative of Bishop holds the middle-weight championship in boxing and his wife is a supermodel. Although the beautiful couple displays a strong marriage on the outside, Nora' s desires threatened to drive Cole to the brink. Rayne, a soulful songstress, is a struggling, recovering addict who is distraught over the death of Bishop. He was the one she could call on to help make it through her weak moments. With her former supplier in town, will she be able to fight her demons without his help? THAT DEVIL'S NO FRIEND OF MINE is a portrayal of one man's impact on the lives of many. I love how Mason seamlessly connected the major and minor characters to create a tale that mimics the interactions in life. The novel is a page-turner and I found myself hating to put it down. I've always been a fan of JD Mason and this current selection truly satisfied. Reviewed by Paula Henderson of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

J.D. Is one of my favorite authors she did this story justice. Loved the way she intertwined all the characters yet they all had their own story which could have been a book of it's own. Keep up the good work I love her writing. If you are looking for books that are hard to put down check out this author you won't be let down.