FLOSS Paperback – August 10, 2008

Floss by Monica Marie Jones is an urban novel revolving around five characters whose lives are full of glamour, glitz and fame. Keeping up with the Joneses by any means necessary is the motto for this crew. The question is how far each will go to lose their own identity, while trying to compete with each other, and gain popularity and the greatest fame?Jabez, Solomon and Abel are childhood friends who as teens competed with each other for who could be the best. Solomon always fell short because he was not near as creative as the dynamic duo, nor did his parents have as much money. So Solomon worked two jobs and embellished his accomplishments, while Jabez and Abel seemed to conquer everything they touched. Abel is a hard working man with his own house, multiple cars and a lust for beautiful women. Jabez is the same but with a hint of mystery. Can Solomon hold his own when he is put under pressure to show and prove or shut up?Dionysus is a beautiful, gold-digger who wants nothing but the best. While running through men like she is running in a marathon, she refuses to slow down and see the error of her ways. While dragging her homely cousin, Torah, along for the ride, Dionysus uses all of her femine wiles to steal every man that is up for the taking, even the not so available ones. Torah is confused by Di's actions and gets sick and tired of being her lap dog. She sets out to prove that she is just as sexy and can get any man she wants as well.This is a well-told drama, involving friends, lovers, and family that will have you laughing, crying and cheering for a great ending. I recommend this to readers of all genres, and I look forward to Ms. Jones' next book.Reviewed by: Cheryl HAPOOO BookClub

Not saying the book was bad book as it was just not for me. When I purchased the book it was free so I figured I'd try it out. I usually read all types of books from drama, romance to thrillers, mystery and christian fiction. I like a good page turner and a great story teller no matter what the book is about. Unfortunately I could't get pass the fifth or sixth chapter. For those chapters it was about Tyse, Di and Solomon who just did not tickle my fancy at all. I am not a gold digger and never could be because I need more than money to keep me there (and I make my own money) but I do know that in order to peep out a man who has money takes more than what the eyes see. Your car and clothes does NOT mean you have money as I know plenty of people like these characters who fake the funk using outside appearances. Many people live above their means. When I got to the part with Solomon and his wad of cash he was using to impress people or Di any way I thought "That's stupid" - a real gold digger will know men with money don't carry around a wad of cash. Although I don't believe Di was a true gold digger or she would have saw right through the game he was playing and Tyse too for that matter. Both brothers were broke as a joke. But she was small time getting a full tank of gas, car and swindling for rent money. Solomon just like many people need to realize that you really can't compete with someone else because we all have our own stature which is not comparable to any one else but ourselves. I don't know maybe the book got better as it went but those things put a stop to my reading real quick. I could only give two stars because I didn't get very far. I will say the prologue with Jabez had me cracking up how he read right through the woman trying to get a free ride.

This was an enjoyable story. An urban tale with a Christian twist. Envy and betrayal for the flesh and the material things (to Floss) with a mix of tragedy... to having faith and understanding enough to believe what you really need in your life to move on and be happy.The author did a great job introducing the characters, their different personalities and the lives they were living. Abel, Solomon, Jabez, Dionysus, Torah & Tyse. These characters could have very well been someone I knew or someone I know now.The character Dionysus used writing to help process her feelings, so I enjoyed the added poetry. All were beautiful (the author is a poetess) and went well with the parts they were added to. Of course I do have a favorite from the book and that was "Steamy Showers" ... This came after a dream the character Dionysus had.The only thing that was unclear with the story was in a couple scenes I really couldn't tell how much time had past...one minute it was like things were happening in the same week but then it would seem maybe a month or two had past.Overall this was a very good read and the message by the end was clear. I'm looking forward to reading more from Monica Marie Jones.

I want to start by saying I have a lot of respect for this author. I don't know her personally but it takes a lot of hard work, sweat, tears, and dedication to get your book published (even if you do it yourself)! I recognize and appreicate that! This book really had the potential to be waaaaay better than it was! I read Swagg first (the follow up to Floss) and I've noticed the author has some issue with character development. She creates such GREAT characters but she falls through on developing them.Floss spent soooooo much time talking about how good the main character look it left little time to get to the point of the book. I loved supporting characters like Torah/Solmon, what the represented, and their place in the book but their ratchetness (i know thats not a word) was never utlizied.This was a tough read for me, hard to finish, because i had no desire to make it to the end. A lot of pointless things happened in this book I feel took away from the story. Once I did make it to the end I was shocked the book was over because it ended with no warning.Another theme I noticed with this writer is that all the "beautiful" women in the story are light skin or have light complexions. I'm not really senstive to race, but whats up the a cute brown skin sister thrown in the mix?A plus to the book would be that it is not the average hood book. Its very Detroit and urban but not "hood"! I hope this review helps!!