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Book Review By sandra calhoune
Date Night by Carmen Green

Marquita "Quita" Snell, Beverly Jason and Ebony Manchester are three upwardly mobile African American women juggling their careers and their desires to find a good man. The three women meet each week to discuss an investment group that they created as a step towards a financially independent future. As the women meet to discuss their finances they come up with the idea of date night. Each women will have at least one date per week then meet up with the other girls to discuss their date. Beverly, known as BJ, is a former WNBA basketball player, one who has achieved moderate success and owns her own home. BJ is struggling with the issue of taking care of her elderly grandmother, who lives in an assisted living center. Although BJ dearly loves her grandmother, she is desperately afraid that the high cost of her grandmother's care will jeopardize her own future. Furthermore, although BJ is looking to meet the man of her dreams and get married, all she seems to meet are losers and cheaters. BJ's luck takes a turn for the better when she meets a tall, dark and handsome police officer. Quita is the bombshell of the group, the one that draws long, sexy stares and is the object of many men's affections. Quita has achieved major success as the owner of a profitable club. Quita has always been the one to draw the line in the sand for her male admirers. What she really longs for is a man who gives her a run for her money and challenges her. Quita's world is turned upside down when her gynecologist hits her with some devastating news. A severe case of fibroids and blocked fallopian tubes has left her infertile. Having children has always been a cherished dream for Quita, even moreso than finding the man of her dreams. Quita can't imagine living a life without children and she yearns to erase the dysfunction of her upbringing by showering her own children with all the love she was denied. Just when Quita is at her lowest, she meets a man who may be able to bring her out of her depression. Ebony is the quiet, plain member of the group, one who is lacking in confidence. Ebony has a boring job as an office manager and tends to experience jealous feelings whenever BJ and Quita get together without her being present. Ebony can't help but feel that she's the odd woman out. Making things more complicated is the fact that Ebony's crafty mother and aunt have moved in with her and made her living situation unbearable. Although Ebony had been planning to move into her first home, her mother and aunt have financially bled her dry and taking advantage of her kindness. Furthermore, although Ebony does manage to get a date or two, the dates never call her for a second date and seem totally disinterested. As Ebony's life spirals out of control it is up to Quita and BJ to show her the strength that lies in their friendship.


Plot & Themes
Time/era of story
Difficult/unusual lover? Yes
How difficult?
If one lover chases another... - they alternate
Children/Pregnancy Yes
Children/Pregnancy: - Can't get pregnant

Main Male Character
Profession/status:
Age/status: - 20's-30's
Sex makes him
If he's not white he must be... - black

Main Female Character
Age/status: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Effect of sexing
If she's not white she must be... - black

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Deep South

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
What % of story is romance related? - 80%
How explicit is the sex? - vague references only - descript of kissing - touching of anatomy - actual description of sex
Focus of story - many multiple characters
How much dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
How much sexing? - 1-2 sex acts
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