Big Girls Don't Cry is entertaining and yet very familiar. Those of us who grew up in the 60's and 70's can relate to Naomi Jefferson's different predicaments and how she handles life's ups and downs. Naomi appears so grown up at times and yet she is a little intimidated by life.

At the very beginning of the story, Naomi lets you know she has a mind of her own and challenges any decisions that are made on her behalf. But as she goes through adolescense and into womanhood, she loses some of that self-confidence when it comes to her relationships with men. She isn't very rational at times and falls into the trap of letting herself become a door mat for these men that she so-calls, loves.

I love the way, Ms. Briscoe leads you into Naomi's life so much that you find yourself wondering what is going to happen to her next or you think that's it, she hits you with another twist to the story and you cannot put the book down.

We have all been there at some time in our life. It's facinating to read how someone else handles the dilemmas of life.

Big Girls Don't Cry is such an excellent book. I was totally enthralled by the story, the characters, the sub-plots, etc. Ms. Naomi had her moments, both good and bad, but for the most part she was a very realistic and likeable character. Dean was my boy. I was so happy when the those two cut all of the crap and gave into their feelings for each other. Y'all I was in tears by the last page, tears of joy because I was so delighted that everybody got it together and "lived happily ever after." (Call it corny, but I'm a sucker for awell-crafted, happy ending.)

I really appreciate Connie Briscoe's writing style. She doesn't pour the profanity on too thick, she develops her characters very well, and her love scenes are tasteful and passionate. All I want to know is when girlfriend's next book is coming out...I am in need to read another contemporary classic from this talented sista.

Although it took a chapter or two to get into this book, once you were there you couldn't stop. This is an amazing book which talks about the struggles of the older days. It explains how Naomi has to deal with love, school, work, and family and how much harder it is for her since she is a Black woman. The book goes on to show that with enough determination you can go on to do anything that you want. The book also does a great job of showing us younger kids just how bad it was in the older days for the blacks. The book was very fast paced so it was easy to read in just two days. The author did a great job of making me laugh and cry. I was able to put myself in Naomi shoes in some cases and understand exactly how she felt. This is a very well written book that can be enjoyed by both young and old!

"A Long Way From Home" is the second novel that I've read by this author. I was very curious about her ability to write a convincing story of this nature, regardless of the fact that she claims to be a decendant of James Madison's slave family. It certainly was a departure from "Big Girls Don't Cry", but well worth the time. I thought the book gave the reader a fairly realistic picture of the life and times of pre-Civil War slavery. Ms Briscoe reveals the horror of slavery adequately without excess. Any African American of southern ancestry is acquainted with what we, as a people, endured. I particularly liked the way the author continued to tell the story after the ending of slavery, showing you how this event affected both races in their daily lives. It was very sad that Susan had to allow her marriage and motherly roles to be so compromised, but, indeed this was done or one paid a cruel price. The book held my interest from beginning to end. I definitely recommend this author if you want your reading to be worthwhile.

I thought the book to be an excellent and uplifting read. I was a little disappointed with "Big Girls Don't Cry." That particular book was definately not one of her best pieces of work. "A Long Ways From Home" reminded me of a Black version of "Gone With The Wind", only this time from a slaves perspective. Not many black authors write from a historical perspective. Connie Briscoe paid tribute to her ancestors by detailing the harshness and brutatily that slaves often endured. A key point that was referenced in the book was the differences in mentality between the house slaves and the field hands. The lighter skinned house slaves were preferred over the darker skinned field hands. House slaves often emulated their white masters as thinking themselves superior simply because of their skin color. The author mentioned at the end of the book that part of the story was fact and fiction. She had to put herself in her great-great-great aunt and grandmother's position and write based on how they must've felt growing up in those turbulent and rough times. I enojoyed this book immensley, and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Briscoe's work.

A Long Way From Home is one of those books where I found myself unable to put it down, yet, it made me angrier and angrier as I turned each page! This is a story about slavery and it follows a family of slaves from Montpelier where James Madison, the ex-President, lived. The story takes you from Susie, Clara's mother, all the way to Clara's children, Ellen and Susan, to Clara's grandchildren. This is an absolutely powerful tale of hope for the blacks to receive their freedom. What I didn't think about or really realize, at least until I read this book, is that a lot of blacks during slavery times really did NOT want to be free. I always assumed that blacks wanted their freedom at all costs but when faced with poverty and starvation versus slavery, many of the slaves actually preferred slavery. In any case, A Long Way From home is one of those books that I'm glad I read although I really couldn't wait to get to the ending, not because this was a horrible book, but because I really wanted to know how things ended up and because I really, REALLY wanted to know if Susan obtained her freedom before the book ended! Yes, this book can make you angry from time to time, but, don't let that stop you from reading a fantastic story!

Unfortunately I've not read many Connie Briscoe books, however, the two I've read so far (this one and 'A Long Way from Home,')would encourage me to read more. I'm looking forward to receiving my copy of P.G. County. Nonetheless, after reading Sisters and Lovers I did come away with some laughter and a few reality checks. I thought the three main characters (the sisters) were very believable, funny, and ultimately supportive of each other. I only wish the one sister, Charmain, had been a little more independent and not determined to hold on to a 'man,' even a bad man. The book is definitely worth reading (great for reading on subways or buses or any long ride) and as a member of a book club here in Washington, DC it does give you something to talk about. And also coming from a large family of eight girls I can relate.

Sisters & Lovers is very realistic, Connie's style is slow and easy, but she was right on with the siters. I found the relationship between them so true it was comical. They were so frank and somtimes hard on each other, but behind all of the differences they cared for each other. I was glad to see that the men in the lives of the three sisters, were not chasing other women and were not abusive. Kevin and Vernon did not handle old love interest in the best way, but they were both genuinely honest. Charmaine needed to kick Clarence to the curb. The ending was a little soft. I would have love to visit again with Vernon and Beverly. But I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I also read and enjoyed 'Big Girls Don't Cry'.

Sisters and Lovers is a book that is close to my heart. I know people that could fit each character. It was a joy reading this book and I didn' t want it to end. The story held my interest until the end of the book. I love Connie's style of writing. I will be reading more Connie Briscoe books. Thumbs up!

I am a huge fan of Connie Briscoe. I must say that Big Girls Don't Cry was one of my favorite books of all time and had me praising Connie as one of the premier African American female writers. Sisters and Lovers and A Long Way from Home were also well written. Having lived in Prince George's County for my entire life, I was only too excited to read this book. I knew it HAD to be good because every single copy of the book in our public library system was either checked out or on hold. When I first started reading the book, I could not stop. However, I could not have been more disappointed with the ending. She gets two stars for the book being a real page turner. But the end left much to be desired. I found myself laughing and saying 'No Connie...you've got to be kidding me.' She could have done so much more with the conclusion of the book.

And I must say, that the entire Lee story was a complete waste of time and out of place. It added nothing to the story.

I believe Connie Briscoe is a gifted story teller, however, I don't believe this book demonstrates that at all. I'm hoping that the next one will show a little more of her talent.

Open P.G. County by Connie Briscoe and step inside the world of the affluent, mostly African American community of Silver Lake, Maryland. Meet Bradford and Barbara, a philanderer and the woman who turns to cigarettes and alcohol to cover the pain. Meet Patrick and Jolene, a hard-working man trying to earn a living while his wife tries to find a better life with someone else.

Meet Pearl, a single mom who own her own hair salon and attempts to come to terms with her only son, Kenyatta, dating a white girl. Meet Candice, the mother of that white girl, a recently remarried woman dealing with the biggest secret of her life.

And meet Lee, a teenager from the streets, who is in trouble who wants to find her daddy, but all she knows about him is that his name is Smokey and he lives in Silver Lake.

Learn more about these characters, and their views on each other, through chapters devoted to each individual. Watch Barbara struggle with her husband's affairs, and how to kick-start her own life.

Watch Patrick begin his career in politics and see Jolene as she tries to find the man capable of keeping her in the lifestyle she dreams of.

Watch Pearl and Candice come to terms with their children dating outside their race. And watch Lee as she stumbles her way into the Silver Lake enclave.

By revealing key events in the characters' pasts, Briscoe helps the reader understand why they act the way the do. She does an excellent job of bringing them to life in this book.

The method of alternating chapters dealing with a person's private life and chapters dealing with how this person interacts with the other characters in a group situation, is what makes this book work. There is a sense of completeness at the end of the book, however, the reader would like to continue to follow them along their life's path.

Connie Briscoe creates a soap opera-like melodrama in her latest release entitled P.G. County. The novel takes place in the posh Silver Lake community of Prince George's County, Maryland where we enter a world filled with a host of characters representing the various socio-economic classes. We meet the black elite represented by Bradford Bentley, a self-made, philandering millionaire and his wife, Barbara, a woman who hides her pain in the bottle. There is a "BUPPIE" couple represented by Patrick and his wife, Jolene who has an insatiable, materialistic desire to supercede Barbara regardless of the costs. The upper-middle class white matriarch, Candice, is comfortable living in a black world until her teenaged daughter begins dating a black man (Pearl's son). Pearl owns the local beauty salon and lives in the much frowned upon townhouse development on the outskirts of Silver Lake. We are also shown the impoverished suburb of Seat Pleasant and meet Lee, a young victim of child abuse in search of her real father.

Briscoe builds excitement with Bradford's extramarital affairs, mystery with Lee's search for her father, and suspense with Candice's genealogical search for the truth. Unfortunately this reader found that some of the story's climaxes fell short which made for slow reading at times. Nonetheless, Briscoe does a great job with character development. She provides a solid background for each of the characters so the reader has a clear understanding of their behavior, fears, and motives. The author ends the story in such a way that the reader suspects a sequel may be needed to obtain closure on some open issues and deferred dreams. I believe most Briscoe fans will not be disappointed with this novel because despite the intermittent lags P.G. County is a light, easy, entertaining summer read. Briscoe remains on my favorite author list and will no doubt win more fans with this new release.

Phyllis
APOOO Bookclub