Fiction

The Business of Lovers

The Business of Lovers

  • Downloads：5441
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-04-21 12:51:21
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Eric Jerome Dickey
  • ISBN：1524745219
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

All is fair in love and lust in New York Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey's tale of two brothers， four women， and the business of desire。

Unlike their younger brother， Andr�， whose star as a comedian is rising， neither Dwayne nor Brick Duquesne is having luck with his career--and they're unluckier still in love。 Former child star Dwayne has just been fired from his latest acting role and barely has enough money to get by after paying child support to his spiteful former lover， while Brick struggles to return to his uninspiring white-collar job after suffering the dual blows of a health emergency and a nasty breakup with the woman he still loves。

Neither brother is looking to get entangled with a woman anytime soon， but love--and lust--has a way of twisting the best-laid plans。 When Dwayne tries to reconnect with his teenage son， he finds himself fighting to separate his animosity from his attraction for his son's mother， Frenchie。 And Brick's latest source of income--chauffeur and bodyguard to three smart， independent women temporarily working as escorts in order to get back on their feet--opens a world of possibility in both love and money。 Penny， Christiana， and Mocha Latte know plenty of female johns who would pay top dollar for a few hours with a man like Brick 。 。 。 if he can let go of his past， embrace his unconventional new family， and allow strangers to become lovers。

Eric Jerome Dickey paints a powerful portrait of the family we have， the families we create， and every sexy moment in between。

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Reviews

Danielle ，

Three hundred & eighty-seven pages of nonsense！！

April ，

Did not finish stopped at page 28

Jenny Slagor ，

DNF。 Did not feel much toward the characters and just didn’t want to finish。

Dorothy ，

I don't know if I just want a certain type of book from EJD since reading the Gideon Series and Wanted Woman books （I LOVED THOSE BOOKS）， but I just found myself feeling hohum about this book and many of his later books。 One I started and couldn't even finish。 I'd even started this book before and decided to put it down。 I never do that！ I have always found myself wanting more or so totally engaged by the story I couldn't put the book away。 There was about 5 times that I thought， ok it's ending。 I don't know if I just want a certain type of book from EJD since reading the Gideon Series and Wanted Woman books （I LOVED THOSE BOOKS）， but I just found myself feeling hohum about this book and many of his later books。 One I started and couldn't even finish。 I'd even started this book before and decided to put it down。 I never do that！ I have always found myself wanting more or so totally engaged by the story I couldn't put the book away。 There was about 5 times that I thought， ok it's ending。 I would have been ok with that， but this drug on and on。 I also thought this book was more about one of the brothers and not the others。 IDK。 EJD is one of my favorite authors and I am so sad that he is gone。 I hate that I didn't love this book。 。。。more

Ariana ，

This was an easy 2。5 read for me because I did （mostly） enjoy EJD's take on intimacy and I was grateful that the ending was what it was （（view spoiler）[ I THOUGHT Coretta was going to be endgame for Brick， or Alison or really anybody besides Mocha Latte which would've pissed me the HELL off since I finished the book even though I wasn't feeling it。 （hide spoiler）]。 I rounded down to 2 stars not because the plot wasn't interesting， but there was a lot of soul-baring in first conversations （like This was an easy 2。5 read for me because I did （mostly） enjoy EJD's take on intimacy and I was grateful that the ending was what it was （（view spoiler）[ I THOUGHT Coretta was going to be endgame for Brick， or Alison or really anybody besides Mocha Latte which would've pissed me the HELL off since I finished the book even though I wasn't feeling it。 （hide spoiler）]。 I rounded down to 2 stars not because the plot wasn't interesting， but there was a lot of soul-baring in first conversations （like paragraphs and paragraphs of a life story and deep shit within minutes of meeting folks）， some commentary about sex work & disability that felt reductive/one-sided， and some characters that deserved some further developing。 My questions about Dwayne and DEFINITELY about Andre also took away from it， though EJD states in the acknowledgements that he cut out Andre's portion for length。 From the other reviews， it seems like I should seek out more early EJD books so I'll add them to my to-read list。 。。。more

Vicci Divine ，

Gotta love Dickey's ability to bring out the human in his characters。 I always love the insight into men that he gives in his books。 I liked the story because it wasn't a fairytale just people living life， trying to make it and all the stuff that comes in between。 Gotta love Dickey's ability to bring out the human in his characters。 I always love the insight into men that he gives in his books。 I liked the story because it wasn't a fairytale just people living life， trying to make it and all the stuff that comes in between。 。。。more

jane ，

Repetitious， name dropping plot。 Entertaining enough。

Sherry ，

2。5

Jessica Morales-Lafaille ，

I couldn't get into this read found myself skipping a lot。 I read 36% of it and gave up。 I couldn't get into this read found myself skipping a lot。 I read 36% of it and gave up。 。。。more

Patti Johnson Dorton ，

I think this is Eric Jerome Dickey last novel before he passed away。

Rebecca McPhedran ，

Both Dwayne and Brick aren't having luck with their careers， or their love lives。 Dwayne really wants to see his teenage son， but he is having trouble separating his feelings of love for his son， with the negative feelings he has for his son's mother。 Brick has recently had his heart broken， and he's dealt with some serious health issues。 He's looking to forget and let go， and will try anything to just live in the moment。 An interesting look at family dynamics and the families we make for oursel Both Dwayne and Brick aren't having luck with their careers， or their love lives。 Dwayne really wants to see his teenage son， but he is having trouble separating his feelings of love for his son， with the negative feelings he has for his son's mother。 Brick has recently had his heart broken， and he's dealt with some serious health issues。 He's looking to forget and let go， and will try anything to just live in the moment。 An interesting look at family dynamics and the families we make for ourselves。 A good book， that I may not have picked up initially。 。。。more

YuJu ，

*3。8 stars*

Lisa ，

The best part about this book was the love-making scenes。 4 stars for that。 With the exception of a couple of chapters， the overall story didn't captivate me enough。 The best part about this book was the love-making scenes。 4 stars for that。 With the exception of a couple of chapters， the overall story didn't captivate me enough。 。。。more

Krystal Barnes ，

You can be with someone for twenty years and not know them。Everyone has regrets。“When you stop chasing the wrong things， you give the right things a chance to catch you。”“If only people could wear their personalities on the outside。” We could see who people really are。We as black people need to own our own stuff。So I didn’t like Frenchie in the beginning。 I was like what the hell is going on？ However， after she talked to Brick I came to undersheriff was a single mother that was a bit envious bec You can be with someone for twenty years and not know them。Everyone has regrets。“When you stop chasing the wrong things， you give the right things a chance to catch you。”“If only people could wear their personalities on the outside。” We could see who people really are。We as black people need to own our own stuff。So I didn’t like Frenchie in the beginning。 I was like what the hell is going on？ However， after she talked to Brick I came to undersheriff was a single mother that was a bit envious because it was like she had given up her dream and career to take care of Fela while Dwayne was free to be Dwayne。 No matter if you are famous they see black first。Be yourself。 No matter what at some point your heart will be broken it’s just how you deal with it。In life there are no do overs。 Black men hold a lot in and often hide from each other what’s going on like Brick not telling his brothers about his struggle with cancer and Dwayne waiting until he couldn’t wait any longer and told him about Fela needing food。 As Dickey points out， “black men were treated as adults from the womb and seen as warriors with no weaknesses。 We suffered in silence， handled things on our own。 We didn’t really sit around and powwow our problems over wine at a pity party。 We just handled it。 We were about solving issues， not pointless conversations that offered no solutions。”Brick just wanted a woman to love and wanted a woman to love him back。Mocha Latte was looking for love and wanted to be loved as well。 Her work was disturbing her mentally。 She realized that there was no love in being a female escort。Once a cheater always a cheater and we saw that with Coretta， Brick’s ex， and Penny’s ex。“Everyone has secrets。 It’s their right to have secrets。 When those secrets impact you， that’s when it becomes an issue。 Some will lie， lie， lie and guard those secrets to their graves。”“Some people don’t know how to not be cheaters and liars。”“Liars hate getting busted。”Discrimination is real and it will never go away。 For instance the actors and actresses in Black Panther only made a million each while in white movies you have the white actors and actresses making ten and twenty million each。“Most people just want someone to care for them and watch over them。” I am so glad that the story ended with brothers being happy and being a family。 。。。more

Carolyn S ，

DNF。 This book was not for me at all。

Joycelyn Whited ，

R。I。P。 Eric Jerome DickeyEric Jerome Mickey， one of my favorite authors。 I purchased this book after hearing the sad news of Eric's death。 It was amazing as all of his books。 Job well done， Eric！ R。I。P。 Eric Jerome DickeyEric Jerome Mickey， one of my favorite authors。 I purchased this book after hearing the sad news of Eric's death。 It was amazing as all of his books。 Job well done， Eric！ 。。。more

Syl ，

Love Love LoveSuch a great read and kept me intrigued as always。 So sad that he is no longer with us。。。RIP Eric

Lana ，

Another great readEJD does it again。 Great read looking into the lives of three men， their loves ， loves lost and found。 Traumas cause by passed events in their lives and how it is all affecting them now ， how they grow and come out the other side。 Great read。 Just as I came to the end of this book I heard the sad new that EJD passed away so sad。 RIEP💔

Fantasia ，

I enjoyed this book for showing how there are layers to everyone。 Even when you want to dislike a character in the end everyone has a story and it makes it hard to commit anyone to the role of villain。 Well I take that back- Dwayne Sr and Coretta make decent villains。 The Business of Lovers does a great job of displaying familial， financial， and sensual entanglements。 There are deep conversations that didn't overwhelm or underwhelm the story but offered many segues of how being being down or you I enjoyed this book for showing how there are layers to everyone。 Even when you want to dislike a character in the end everyone has a story and it makes it hard to commit anyone to the role of villain。 Well I take that back- Dwayne Sr and Coretta make decent villains。 The Business of Lovers does a great job of displaying familial， financial， and sensual entanglements。 There are deep conversations that didn't overwhelm or underwhelm the story but offered many segues of how being being down or your luck or life's hardships can reach even the most educated， of people。 Familial， financial， sensual entanglements。 The Business of Lovers is a tale of family， the family born into and the family you make。 There are multiple love stories and deep conversations about love and life - how being down on your luck can change everything for the most accomplished folks。 。。。more

Ann ，

I had a hard time reading some of this authors past books ， and decided to give this a try。 Glad I pick it up， because this was awesome fast read！！！！

WiseWrds ，

Great Read！ So good I read it twice！

DearBookClub ，

"The Business Of Lovers"Author: Eric Jerome Dickey384 Pages"The Business Of Lovers，" by Eric Jerome Dickey， puts a face on the sex work trade。 Often people， especially women， are demonized for selling their bodies， so it was refreshing to come across a story that uplifted women in the sex work industry。 The book follows three different women: Mocha Latte， Christiana， and Penny， and dives into their backgrounds that led them to becoming escorts。 One character is an electrical engineer with a Mast "The Business Of Lovers"Author: Eric Jerome Dickey384 Pages"The Business Of Lovers，" by Eric Jerome Dickey， puts a face on the sex work trade。 Often people， especially women， are demonized for selling their bodies， so it was refreshing to come across a story that uplifted women in the sex work industry。 The book follows three different women: Mocha Latte， Christiana， and Penny， and dives into their backgrounds that led them to becoming escorts。 One character is an electrical engineer with a Master's degree that has fallen on hard times， another is a lawyer who migrated from Cuba， while the other character is a struggling University Of Southern California student。 As an avid reader of Eric Jerome Dickey I was glad to see that Ken Swift and Jay Ellis made subtle appearances throughout the book （characters of previous series）。 The sex scenes were extremely graphic。 However， I suppose if you are a fan of Zane's novels you will enjoy the wild sexual encounters。 。。。more

Khadesia ，

It's more if a 3。5。。。 the end seemed rushed。 And I still don't care for Frenchie。 Would've liked to hear more about Andre。 It's more if a 3。5。。。 the end seemed rushed。 And I still don't care for Frenchie。 Would've liked to hear more about Andre。 。。。more

Punkin ，

Was not impressed with this book

Michael Bell ，

Eric Jerome Dickey writes the best love scenes ever。 How a man can cause a woman a three level deep orgasm is beyond me。 I wish I could make it happen though。 Brick was a driver who slipped into the business of prostitution。 He has two brothers who have different show biz arcs。 I liked Mocha Latte and am glad how things turned out for her after she quit the business。 It was a quick read for my train ride。 I need another version of Resurrecting Midnight。

Curtis Lockette ，

Another Hit！！！Okay。 Where do I start？ First， it was what I expected for EJD books。 He keeps making it real， exotic， erotic， simple， complicated， beautifully done。 They way the characters were developed and then intertwined to a positive （？） end。 I loved this book。 I’m looking for love。 It still exists。 Thanks。

Black Carrie ，

This book was a drag it had potential though I miss his old work

Asa Maria Bradley ，

I'm a big fan of the author and have read most of his books。 This one is very much written from the male gaze， but what saves it from becoming too much of a bromance， and too sexualized is how very generous the gazes of the male characters in this book are。 Especially when it comes to Brick， who was my favorite character POV in the book。 There is plenty of hot sex in the book， sometimes so much that it is on the border of being gratuitous， but the author always pulls it back right before it goes I'm a big fan of the author and have read most of his books。 This one is very much written from the male gaze， but what saves it from becoming too much of a bromance， and too sexualized is how very generous the gazes of the male characters in this book are。 Especially when it comes to Brick， who was my favorite character POV in the book。 There is plenty of hot sex in the book， sometimes so much that it is on the border of being gratuitous， but the author always pulls it back right before it goes over the edge and makes the scene mean something to the characters， or to the reader。 It's a story about brotherhood， found family， and how we are all searching for love and that one person who can love us despite our flaws。 This book also touches on so many social issues， poverty， race， professional snobbery， America's expensive healthcare system， and more。 However， it never becomes preachy， because the subjects are so well interwoven into the narrative that you don't even notice how much this book makes you think。 Not until you've turned the last page and it lingers on your mind for a long time and you desperately start asking your friends if they have read it because you need to talk about how it made you feel and all the thoughts rumbling around in your mind。 。。。more

Laura ，

Picked this one up at the local library off the new shelf。 I've been trying to expand my reading list to include new to me authors。 Way more sex scenes in this one than I was expecting。 A few I skimmed over to just stick more to the plotline。Overall， the story was interesting。 Three brothers who are all struggling in relationships and by the end find their "Ms。 Right。"While I did not feel the desire to read through all the sex scenes， I did appreciate how the author wove in the idea of people do Picked this one up at the local library off the new shelf。 I've been trying to expand my reading list to include new to me authors。 Way more sex scenes in this one than I was expecting。 A few I skimmed over to just stick more to the plotline。Overall， the story was interesting。 Three brothers who are all struggling in relationships and by the end find their "Ms。 Right。"While I did not feel the desire to read through all the sex scenes， I did appreciate how the author wove in the idea of people down on their luck taking up the selling of sex to pay the bills。 And how for some it was a temporary jaunt into the land of Vegas while for others it becomes their salvation from a life they hated。 。。。more

Sylvia ，

I love Eric。 His characters are so amazing！ He makes me either love or despise them。 What a wonderful way to feel。 I loved these characters because they were so real。 Great writing as usual！

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Business of Lovers

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Business of Lovers&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Business of Lovers&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0