Home Page

Loving Yourself First, July 11, 2007

By  SistahFriend Book Club (www.sistahfriend.com) - See all my reviews
When the voluptuous Karaha decides to attend an urban film festival, she has two goals in mind: to further develop her craft as a film maker and to once again taste that thing called love. After meeting two guys, one she does not really like but ends up bedding and another she thinks she likes but is unsure of how to approach, she leaves the festival with a broken spirit and deflated self-image. In the course of a year, Kahara battles with her inner demons of dejection; but, with the help of a tall, slender boy toy with sexy "sad" eyes, she learns a lesson in self-forgiveness and finally accepts herself for who she is--a thick sistah with a firecracker-temper living the golden age of forty.

In Next Time, Cheryl Matlock embraces touchy issues that affect mature women universally. Overflowing with feelings of guilt, betrayal, and very low ideas of self-worth, after reading the first half of this novel I actually became a little depressed--which is a good thing. Matlock's storytelling drew me into the frustrating life of Kahara--almost to the point where I started thinking this woman sounded too familiar . . . But I wasn't frazzled for too long; there were a few sizzling hot love scenes that quickly made me forget the blues. By the end of the novel, I found myself thanking Kahara for being true to herself and showing other women that you must first love yourself before you can genuinely love someone else.

4 Sistah Hugs

Tasha Martin
SistahFriend Book Club
 

Woman Exposed, April 30, 2007

By  Angelia Menchan "Writer/Reader" (Florida) - See all my reviews
Next Time by Cheryl Matlock is a novel that explores and exposes what goes on in the heart and mind of a woman looking for love. Kahara Jenkins is a successful financial analyst and budding filmmaker. While at the Black Film Festival in Virginia, she runs into three men who peak her interest, Julius the event coordinator, Gary, a Virginia native who owns his own film company and Marshall, a computer analyst from Birmingham. Kahara is lonely and has been celibate for a year. She has decided she will find a lover at the festival. Julius is quickly dismissed. Gary seems most interested and is her usual type, tall, thin and handsome. But, for some reason, she finds herself with Marshall, a less attractive, muscular type. She and Marshall spend three days playing a cat and mouse game before she ends up in bed with him. Unfortunately, the day after the sex he is no longer interested. It is almost painful to read how this affects Kahara. She feels guilty for having slept with him so soon and her insecurities about herself are deep-seated. She practically chases behind him longing for his attention. Her pain leapt from the pages as she described how she felt. At the end of the trip, she and Gary have a brief conversation, promising to keep in touch.

Once Kahara is back in Chicago and settled back into her routine she is contacted by Gary. They develop a long-distance relationship that is fraught with ups and downs. Kahara's insecurities cause her to have a short temper and Gary being such an eligible bachelor is a spoiled man, used to having his way.

Next Time is a voyeuristic journey inside a relationship. Ms. Matlock does a wonderful job of exposing what goes on inside the mind of a woman who has accomplished so much, but still wants that one thing, a loving relationship. She also handles her male characters in a loving way, not excusing their behavior but by no means bashing them. She allowed us to view two people really working to have a relationship. Reading this book at times made me feel as though I was peeking in someone's window, eavesdropping on their lives. I also loved the way I was never sure what would happen with the relationship until the very end. This is a recommended read for anyone who can relate to wanting that one last thing to complete the circle, or who simply loves peeking inside someone else's business.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub