Overview
"Everyone knew that Eula May had lost her mind over loving a married man. It was what drove her to kill herself and leave her only daughter, Roberta, in the care of the local midwife. So it was no wonder that Roberta became obsessed with Charles Harris the very first time she laid eyes on him. And she was willing to do whatever it took to make sure she was the only woman in his life. When he is forced to marry her because of her unexpected pregnancy, Roberta feels that she has everything she ever wanted." Women have always come easy to Charles, so he's wondering how he got saddled with a wife he doesn't love, two beautiful children, and a longing for something grander. Then he meets the stunning Sara Tate and discovers a love almost as consuming as the one Roberta feels for him. This deadly love triangle will result in deception and murder, leaving a legacy for generations to come.Synopsis
Everyone knew that Eula May had lost her mind over loving a married man. It was what drove her to kill herself and leave her only daughter, Roberta, in the care of the local mid-wife. So it was no wonder that Roberta became obsessed with Charles Harris the very first time she laid eyes on him. And she was willing to do whatever it took to make sure she was the only woman in his life. So when he is forced to marry her because of her unexpected pregnancy, Roberta feels that she has everything she ever wanted.
Women have always come easy to Charles, so he's wondering how he got saddled with a wife he doesn't love, two beautiful children and a longing for something grander. Then he meets the stunning Sara Tate and discovers a love almost as consuming as the one Roberta feels for him. This deadly love triangle will result in deception and murder, leaving a legacy for generations to come.
Publishers Weekly
Big passions lead to deadly romantic triangles for two generations of African-Americans in Mason's latest (after 2003's One Day I Saw a Black King). The story begins in the 1930s, when 14-year-old Roberta Adams sets her sights on handsome mill worker Charles Brooks, even though he's passionately involved with Nadine, a married woman. But Roberta is crafty: when love potions don't work on Charles, she tries poison on Nadine. One night, as Nadine lies dying, Roberta pounces on Charles. The seduction works; Roberta gets pregnant and Charles must marry her, a union that turns out quite well considering its provenance. But Charles eventually goes astray when his side job as a handyman brings him in contact with pretty young Sara Tate, whom he handily seduces and impregnates. And, oh, the lurid lives of smalltown Texans! Roberta, inflamed by jealousy, tries to kill Sara's child and then wakes her husband up and stabs him, nearly slicing off his head. The plotting turns even more cartoonish when Mason leaps ahead to the 1960s. Roberta has just been released after years of incarceration, and Sara's mentally handicapped son, Adam (people call him "Fool"), is accused of rape when the girl he loves gets pregnant. Mason's flair for fast-moving narration makes this an easy read, but readers may find there's far too much meanness, deceit and violence. (Oct.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Big passions lead to deadly romantic triangles for two generations of African-Americans in Mason's latest (after 2003's One Day I Saw a Black King). The story begins in the 1930s, when 14-year-old Roberta Adams sets her sights on handsome mill worker Charles Brooks, even though he's passionately involved with Nadine, a married woman. But Roberta is crafty: when love potions don't work on Charles, she tries poison on Nadine. One night, as Nadine lies dying, Roberta pounces on Charles. The seduction works; Roberta gets pregnant and Charles must marry her, a union that turns out quite well considering its provenance. But Charles eventually goes astray when his side job as a handyman brings him in contact with pretty young Sara Tate, whom he handily seduces and impregnates. And, oh, the lurid lives of smalltown Texans! Roberta, inflamed by jealousy, tries to kill Sara's child and then wakes her husband up and stabs him, nearly slicing off his head. The plotting turns even more cartoonish when Mason leaps ahead to the 1960s. Roberta has just been released after years of incarceration, and Sara's mentally handicapped son, Adam (people call him "Fool"), is accused of rape when the girl he loves gets pregnant. Mason's flair for fast-moving narration makes this an easy read, but readers may find there's far too much meanness, deceit and violence. (Oct.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.From the Publisher
"Big passions lead to deadly romantic triangles for two generation of African-Americans in Mason's latest. . .[her] flair for fast-moving narration makes this an easy read."---Publishers Weekly
"In this novel, generations of black Texas families struggle to survive love, lust, and betrayal...Mason's prequel to her novel One Day I Saw a Black King is full of surprises and answers."---Booklist
"JD Mason does a great job developing these characters and she also has created characters that readers won’t soon forget about."---BookReporter.com
"Don't Want No Sugar is a tale of passion, lust, betrayal and intrigue. Mason's style is not only distinctive and unique, it will leave readers so enthralled they'll have trouble putting the book down. Taking place over several decades, this book has a new revelation at every turn and is pure pleasure to read."---Romantic Times