When she turns up dead the next day, Ten finds himself as a suspect in the murder investigation. Ten bumps into an old client, rapper-turned- actress, Afrodite and the two spend an afternoon of steamy sex together at her home where she kindly offers him bona fide acting work via her production company, Casanegra. He views himself as a disappointment and embarrassment to his highly revered and retired police lieutenant father which not surprisingly fosters a strained relationship between the two. With the combined forces of all three, you can only expect explosive results!Ĭasanegra is Blair Underwood's latest novel that focuses on the adventures of a suave, male escort-turned- actor, Tennyson (Ten) Hardwick - yes, that is his name - fitting for a former Los Angeles gigolo, huh? Ten, motherless at an early age, is also a former police academy drop-out who had a run in with the law during his escorting tenure. The masterful Steven Barnes' most recent novel, GREAT SKY WOMAN, is breathtaking.

And have enjoyed Blair Underwood's work ever since his L.A. I've enthusiastically followed Tananarive Due since a friend recommended her brilliant MY SOUL TO KEEP (I'm a sci-fi/horror buff). But the bottom line is: Throw in Ten's decorated ex-cop dad, the sometimes treacherous world of gansta rap, a colorful array of supporting folks, and some of the spiciest sex scenes this side of a brothel, and what you have is an exquisite page-turning romp. I won't spoil all the many twists and turns of Ten's bumpy journey by giving them away here. On top of that, they even carve out time to engage in some wild impromptu sex acts most probably haven't even heard of yet (you'll reread many MANY paragraphs more than once, trust me). From there, he hooks up with a feisty investigative reporter, April, and the duo team up to crack the case, and hopefully clear Ten's name. Afrodite is brutally murdered and Ten finds himself the unwitting #1 suspect. This wouldn't be riveting fiction if our hero got his happily-ever-after so close to page 1. In fact, she's gung-ho on helping Ten get his acting career on track.

who chances upon a former client, the female superstar rapper Afrodite, and after some playful exchanges they wind up in bed. Tennyson Hardwick (is that the perfect name, or what!) is an ex-gigolo and struggling actor based in L.A. The thing is, folks, this story rocks-hard.

Casanegra novel