Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781593091279
ISBN: 1593091273
Label: Strebor Books
Manufacturer: Strebor Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 256
Publication Date: 2008-01-08
Publisher: Strebor Books
Studio: Strebor Books

• Eastside (Strebor on the Streetz)

A fresh voice in urban fiction spins a classic romance into a modern-day love story about sisterhood, faith, and overcoming obstacles.

This humorous tale of love and triumph ties two unlikely suitors together in a merry mix of plotting and gossip. On one side is R&B superstar, Jamaica, and on the other is the passionate, but impoverished Tameer. When the two are brought together in what is meant to be a temporary relationship -- arranged by Jamaica's best friend and personal assistant LaChina -- both are surprised when true feelings burst onto the scene and disrupt everyone's plans.

With Tameer's drunken father, Jamaica's socialite mother, and a band of super-ghetto, meddling friends all blended together, Two Thin Dimes becomes a hilarious, topsy-turvy fight for love in a world gone mad.

Going beyond the simple rich girl, poor boy tale, Caleb Alexander brings his popular style to a whole new level and draws his growing audience along with him as the story takes on social class, unexpected romance, loyalty to friends, and -- most importantly -- the cost of true love.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Unexpected Romance (RAW Rating: 3.5)
Comment: Caleb Alexander offers readers an urban romance in his latest novel, TWO THIN DIMES. Jamaica is an R&B star who is spoiled and pretentious; all her life she has gotten what she wanted and it shows. Tameer, on the other hand, is poor and struggling to do the right thing, while trying to forge a better life for himself and for his younger brother. Tameer's mother died when he and his brother were young and they have basically had to fend for themselves because their abusive father is more engaged in drugs and alcohol than he is in raising his sons. Tameer and Jamaica's worlds collide during a chance encounter in a shopping mall. This chance meeting leads to an arranged "relationship" between the two, but slowly, feelings creep in and suddenly an unexpected romance begins to unfold. The relationship has all the bumps in the road one would expect when bringing together two people with such different lives and backgrounds, and the couple's family and friends add additional conflict and drama to the mix.

TWO THIN DIMES started a little slowly, but eventually began to build momentum. Though the story was a bit unrealistic and yet predictable, the character development helped move the plot along and kept me interested. I thoroughly enjoyed how Caleb Alexander worked issues of class into the story because it really highlighted how our impressions about what a person is like can be muddied by stereotypes. At the heart of TWO THIN DIMES is the idea that true love often involves sacrifice and many times, comes from unexpected places.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

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Customer Rating:
Summary: I am a Woman First
Comment: Multi-platinum recording artist Tiera is sent to Texas to do a promo shoot with a whale. All the while, she is so angry at her assistant LaChina for setting this up that all she can think of is "Boy, I am going to kill LaChina when I get out of this huge tank." LaChina comes up with a plan of her own for a video shoot that includes the same whale. Coming up with a plan to stall their stay in Texas, they run into a man in a mall who seems to be perfect for getting Tiera out of LaChina's hair so she can handle the business in silence.

Tameer Harris (Mr. All Star, All City, All Regional) sets the best records in the state of Texas playing football. With every major college offering him full scholarships, Tameer opted to go to school for school and not sports. Having his mother leave him and his brother when they were younger to be raised by their mean, overweight, alcoholic, drug-abusing father, Tameer is determined to rise above the expectations of everyone.

Running into each other in the mall they both land on the floor, Jamaica/Tiera is furious at Tameer for knocking her down and breaking her brand new $1200 Chanel sunglasses. Coming up with a way for Tameer to pay her back, LaChina convinces him to take her out on a date. Once they realize Tameer has no idea who Jamaica/Tiera is, she continues with this affair, not realizing how much she's needed the simple things in her life all along. She finally understands that she is a woman first before being an entertainer.

I have to be honest here...this story missed me from the beginning up until Tameer giving the speech that made you understand the title. I didn't find any of the funny lines funny. Actually, I didn't even realize they were the funny lines. The conversation the girls had was just that.. a conversation that girls would have...and not women. I believe the concept was there; however, I think had the story been told a bit more realistically, it would have been much better. I understand the meaning of fiction; however, there are plenty of fiction novels out that make you feel you are right there with the characters or can relate in some way.

Please don't get me wrong I will continue to read Mr. Alexander's work. But Two Thin Dimes was just not a romantic comedy to me.

Reviewed by Angie
for Urban Reviews

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Fairytales In The Hood....
Comment: Jamaica Tiera Rochelle, R&B diva-socialite, is on her way to a relaxing mini-vacation in the Caribbean's with her personal assistant/best friend, and publicist, LaChina Anderson. One stop away from a much needed rest, the two meet Cousin Jemia in San Antonio where there's not even a limo or chauffeur to shuffle the duo to and fro. China happens upon a lucrative opportunity for Jamaica, which will throw her into a frenzy if she finds out, so China seeks a diversion for her comrade. Tameer, the hood boy from the wrong side of the tracks, has hopes and dreams of a brighter day for he and his baby brother, Savion. These two have had a rough life, being abandoned by their mother and watching their father self-destruct before their very eyes with alcohol and drugs. The mismatched couple would seem to be destined for failure but Caleb weaves a bit of naiveté in the mix with Tameer being the only person that basically has no clue who Jamaica really is.

The most endearing scene is the prison visit to P.J, Jamaica's incarcerated father. The wisdom, genuine love and kindness he exhibits toward his daughter, who he hasn't seen in years, and her new beau is refreshing. Caleb expertly cinches the ending with Tameer reiterating the exact words to Jamaica's condescending mother, Bev, the very speech that won her hand in marriage with the simplicity of Two Thin Dimes.

Two Thin Dimes is a tale of two young people from different worlds, with different values, and different goals in life, that surprisingly find true love despite their numerous differences...those known, and unbelievably those unknown. In my opinion, Caleb Alexander is so naturally talented and such an awesome tale-spinner, that even with this unrealistic plot, he manages to touch my heart with the engaging theme and title of this story.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A True Love Story
Comment: TWO THIN DIMES is a love story about Tameer and Jamaica, two young people from two different walks of life.

Jamaica is a very wealthy celebrity who just wants a genuine relationship with a man who is not attracted to her because of her money. Tameer is a star athlete and college student trying to make a better life for himself and his younger brother, despite his father's demons.

Tameer and Jamaica fall in love under false pretenses, and both of them learn that many things in life aren't what they seem on the surface.

Caleb Alexander is an awesome writer, and has created another winning story with a valuable moral. I look forward to his next release!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Two different worlds
Comment: This book, had me from the first sentence.
We meet Jamaica aka Jai. She was very spoiled, everything had to be her way.
Then you had Tameer, who is struggling to handle things in his Home. His dad is a drunk and is on drugs. He thinks that his dad managed to run his mother away with his fist. We later find out the real deal.

Jamaica and Tameer, come together because of LaChina, Jamaica's manager/friend.
Their first was terrible( well, according to Jai) The next date was Jai and Tameer fishing.
When Jai got back to the motel, she was so giddy with excited.

Jamaica eventually shed her icy exterior, and became a loveable character.


Caleb Alexander pulled off another winner with this book. The book is riveting from start to finish, your not going to want to put it down.

If you have not gotten this book yet, then I suggest that you get moving.

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