Azucar Moreno

Shelley Halima

Strebor Books International – 2004

Pages – 150  $13.00 US

ISBN: 1-59309-032-3

Reviewed by Yolanda M. Johnson

Literary Wonders!

www.literarywonders.com

5/2/2005

Rating: 4 Stars

            Debut author Shelly Halima, another product from Zane’s Strebor International, gives readers a funny, fun-loving and diverse novel with Azucar Moreno.

            Nikki Moreno affectionately known as Azucar Moreno, and her cousin Rosie have been close since childhood.  Nikki, a product of an African-American mother and a Puerto Rican father, is an aspiring actor who has inherited her grandparents home and currently resides there with her lesbian cousin Rosie and long time friend Chico.

            The past, present and future unravel as these three friends prepare to throw an untraditional baby shower for their friend Rhonda and her boyfriend Dante.  The friends reminisce over relationships gone wrong, going wrong or will go wrong. 

            Odell, an African-American homosexual, livens up the pre-party activities with his “diva” style.  Odell has his own share of relationship problems as he prepares to kick his lover to the curb.

            Enters Crystal, the closet freak, who claims she is not down with lesbianism until word gets around town, that curiosity has killed her cat.  When Crystal is turned out by Rosie, the smokey aura of denial fills the air, as Crystal claims to not have liked it.

            Things get really bad when Rhonda takes a turn for the worse when Dante’s gambling problems and carelessness gets out of hand.  The friend’s lives change forever, and they all realize that they must make changes as well.

            All feelings of love and desire come back to Nikki when Mario comes to visit.  Nikki realizes that she had never lost the love in her heart for Mario.  She also realizes that she has to be careful when she has to notify Rosie that Mario will be a permanent fixture in her life, which will result in changes and a move clear across the country. 

            Azucar Moreno breaks barriers and crosses the color lines as well as sexual lines to exemplify that true friendship has no color or boundaries.  Miss Halima’s descriptive depiction of each character draws you into the story as you get a sense of knowing each of them on a more personal level.  Shelly Halima has a knack for telling a story and placing a reader right in the middle of the action. Praises to Miss Halima for Azucar Moreno and kudos to the hint of a sequel.