Usher Book:

Ladies Choice Reviews:
Making choices...
2004-07-11 - From the time she was old enough to understand, Candace Turner was taught by her mother to never date a man who was not extremely wealthy; one who could not provide the finer material things of life. When Jeff White, a UPS driver, expresses an interest in her, Candace immediately snubs him because of his job and her screwed up standards, although she is attracted to him.

Jeff, who is only working for UPS to put himself through medical school, has been attracted to Candace since the first time he saw her. After months of building up his courage, he finally decides to ask Candace out, only to be shot down like a rabid dog. Amazingly enough, after that humiliating episode, he continues to pursue her in hopes that she will change her mind. It's only after several more rejections and the knowledge that she has another man more suited to her standards that Jeff decides to move on with his life. Will Candace come to her senses before it's too late, or because of her standards, will she subject herself to a life that is emotionally unsatisfying?

LADIES CHOICE was a very disappointing read for me. The characters were shallow and there was no real plot development. There were many times I wanted to jump through the pages and slap some sense into the characters. I found myself anxious to finish this novel in hopes that it got better, but sadly it didn't.

Reviewed by Renee Williams
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

In Search of Loving Mr. Right
2004-04-26 - Natasha Usher's "Ladies Choice" is an exposition of the single woman's syndrome in contemporary times. Candace Turner is a successful, independent business owner who is quickly approaching thirty, but can't seem to find love, no matter how hard she searches for it. Life has lost its luster and often causes the caterer to find solace in junk food, television, and her dog Lady's companionship. The big and beautiful Spelman graduate makes it clear that a mate to her liking would be someone she could take pleasure in showing of in society circles. In fact, that's what leads her to reject Jeff White, an intriguing UPS driver who makes his interest in Candace known, despite her firing off an arsenal of insults to scare him off, at every opportunity she can manage. After awhile, Candace admits to herself that Jeff possesses many of the qualities other suitors don't, but faults him for not being ambitious enough and settling to deliver packages for a living. After ruling Jeff out, her adventures in dating are typically nightmares that leave her sipping her favorite liquor, chewing out the person who fixed her up on a blind date, and ultimately puts her in the frame of mind to be willing to settle for Mr. Right Now. The only appeal Mr. Right Now has is financial stability, and never anything more. In time, conflict ensues and settling becomes a daunting task. Candace may be too feisty to keep her mouth shut and "behave" for too long. Agreeing to play a role that someone else has scripted for her won't work in her world, or will it?

Candace's rocky love life is just one of her many problems. Her eccentric mother is capable of irritating Candace at every turn. Add Biranda-one of her best friend's with a secret that ultimately destroys her, to the mix, and a dash of Dorothy-her other best friend who turns up engaged to a white man- and you've got a recipe for constant cat fights. No one can get along in Candace's life and everyone has issues. Peace is something that Candace craves but can't manage to possess, so she finds herself fantasizing about things she would say or do, to escape the never-ending circle of confusion.

By the tenth chapter, Ms. Usher grabs the reader and won't let go. Time spent admonishing Candace for her shallow beliefs evolves into time spent admiring the best parts of her character. We ultimately discover Candace is deeper than she initially appears and is fighting to come to terms with issues that have weighed her down for too long. A host of surprising events turn this novel into a page-turner that has all of the elements of a good daytime soap opera. By the time the episode is over, Candace finds her way out of the maze of unfound love and her drama-filled life calms to a lull. How does she do it?

Andrea Blackstone, author of "$chemin': Confessions of a Gold Digger"
Flavah Reviewers

Wonderfully romantic!!
2004-03-23 - I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what was going to happen with the main character, will she find Mr. Right or not? The author developes the characters very well and uses humor that made me laugh out loud. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I am looking forward to the next one. Truly a great romance!!!!!!!!