Dead Broke Paperback – January 8, 2008

Ok...Ok...So I am pleased to announce that the 4 and 4.5 star that have my haunting my thoughts about Trista Russell's books has evaporated into "another forgotten memory." This book was fabulous!!This is the 3rd title I have read by Trista Russell, and the 4 and 4.5 stars kept me coming back and pulling for her to do more. She definitely accomplishes this mission with "Dead Broke," the sequel to "Going Broke." Much preferred is a true sequel, and there is no way someone could pick up book 2 and know what was going on without reading book 1.[NO SPOILER ALERT!!!...READING THIS REVIEW WILL NOT RUIN THIS TITLE FOR FUTURE READERS!!!]Sarai, admittedly, was not my favorite character in book 1. However, Russell gave her some redemption in the sequel. I was completely irritated for the 1st half of the sequel, but my irritation is not a direct reflection of my thoughts on the talent of the author. I just didn't like the story she penned. I am a helpless romantic, thus, the first half of the book was trying and frustrating. However, what I did not realize, until the end, is that the story had to go this way in order for the readers to get the full impact behind the reason why. With that reason, I am impressed. The ending will still piss the average reader off, I'm sure. Unfortunately, for the reader of this review, Russell did such an awesome job crafting the 2nd book to fit the 1st. I will not say too much more, as I don't want to ruin it. However, what I will say is that the book, in its totality, was absolutely wonderful.Trista Russell is truly a gifted writer. Every person that loves a good story needs to read these books. It is extremely difficult to use an entire book to paint a picture that you can only understand in the end. Occassionally, it was predictable but for the most part...the reader doesn't see what Russell has coming. These books are definitely those "made for a movie" kind of books...M.Knight Shamalan-style. I felt as if I were watching it on a big screen, and at the end, everything made sense. As different characters were introduced, I found myself going back to the 1st book in my mind-like "hey wasn't that such and such," or "hey didn't they say such and such." I found myself turning into my own little detective self as I read along. I was trying to piece the pieces of the puzzle together. Even still, once it all came out, I was still BLOWN AWAY!!!Russell added some wonderfully exciting sex scenes. And boy oh boy, I can totally appreciate the journey that a woman takes in her mind as it pertain to another woman. OMG!!...Russell got that thang on complete lock down!!! She added more mystery and suspense. And she touched on some real issues that men have with the battle between matters of the flesh and matters of the heart. At the end she makes it clear to the reader that one can love a person, but that pales in comparison to being in love. Anyone can have sex in a house, but only the truest love can allow you to make love in a home!!! [Dang!...Trista gets kinda deep in this one!] To spice it up a little bit, she adds a little "Love Jones" flare with "Vocalize." I LOVED IT!! And the way Russell threw in the poetry and the quotes added something good, too.RECOMMENDATION: BUY IT...READ IT....REVIEW IT HERE ON AMAZON!!!!In reading some of the other reviews, as I tend to do before I write my own, I have to disagree with the idea that things were a bit overdrawn and coincidental. I think it is a real piece of art Russell has crafted before our eyes. If anything, one may say that Tremel's dedication to Sarai, no matter what, was a bit unrealstic. However, I want to flip that and say I truly believe that when a man TRULY loves a woman, love is the grounding force. And love, in its truest form, is patient and kind and forgiving....especially when all parties involved got dirt on their noses. Tremel wasn't no angel, for sure. His shoes were not pristine clean, by any sort of an imagination.Russell adds something wonderful to this sequel. I will write for days if I keep trying to figure out how to voice it to those reading this review. All I can say, without hesitation is GET THE 'DANG BOOKS!!!Trista: It's not like you were looking for it, but you earned my respect here. I've read a lot of books, but this was a bit different for me, although I am not quite sure I stated why. I enjoyed my journey through your creative works, and I look forward to reading your other works. I will never see janitors the same again.Now....if I could just find me a "Vocalize" (minus a Twalik) I would be most pleased!!!5 STARS FROM ME ON THIS ONE!!!I look forward to reading other titles by Russell. "Fly On The Wall"....here I come!!"BlessedBookCritic"

Could not put this one down!! The words and story jumped off all the pages. Enjoy. Definitely worth your time!

I love this book umpteen years later and I’m still hook great story line and amazing characters trista you did well

I'm an admitted Trista Russell fan, Going Broke was my first read by Trista and it was so enjoyable that I went on to read all of her subsequent books. With that being said I was very eager to read the sequel Dead Broke. While in confession mode I also have to admit that while I loved Going Broke I actually detested the lead character Sarai Emery. I found her to be snobbish, self-centered and materialistic. But by the end of Going Broke and as a true testament to Trista's storytelling skills, she had me pulling for Sarai and I for one needed to know whether she lived or died.In Dead Broke we find Sarai waking from a month long coma with amnesia, unable to recall the past 10 months of her life. And honestly if I was Sarai I would've wanted to forget the last 10 months as well. A cheating fiancée, back-stabbing girlfriend, ailing father, and a depleting bank account all led Sarai to begin working as an escort. But the love a good man (Tremel) instead of self-love got Sarai back on track. Waking up from her coma Sarai doesn't remember Tremel or her life in the fast lane. Re-emerging is the old Sarai making foolish choices and even worse not remembering past enemies.Enemies who are still plotting on Sarai for her past indiscretions. Who are also exposing all of her dirty secrets to Tremel who's trying to patiently wait for Sarai to remember him. As her memory slowly begins drifting in Sarai doesn't like the things she's learning about herself. It's not too late to make a positive change or is it? Her enemies are getting closer and Tremel is pulling farther away, which provided a very intriguing sub-plot.Trista did a wonderful job revising Sarai, Tremel and Nat's characters and developing newcomers Charlize and Syd. But having Craig from Fly on The Wall materialize as one of Sarai's neighbors actually thrilled me the most. With Dead Broke Trista manages to give readers a good sequel highlighting Sarai's much needed growth while still managing to throw intons of twists.

I listened to the audio of Going Broke and was disappointed to see there was no audio for Dead Broke. So happy I was able to get a copy. Great follow and nice unexpected twist. I do wish we could have seen Tremel succeed again in the music industry. Other than that I loved it.

I read the first book and I was so pressed for the second one I searched and searched but could not find it. I was so desperate so I purchased it and it was amazing, I recommend everyone to read this book. I do have one question will there be another one? Because Conrad has to go down

A Great way to finish the story of Sarai and Tremel. So many twists, it was an exciting book to read! Thank you Trista! You never disappoint. I look forward to reading more of your books.

Trista Russell delivers a hot, spicy, scandalous, and sex-devouring story that doesn't miss a beat to its predecessor. I thought Sarai's amnesia was a bit far-fetched, but the author amazingly conveyed it by making the story believable. This was a difficult task. The only upset was Damian not making a full-fledged cameo. It would have been great if Sarai had the opportunity to confront that man that almost killed her once her memory was regained. Cherry's and Charlize's twisted plotting should have put them both up for Academy Awards. I didn't care for the cheesy ending to this book. Sarai's whorish antics brushed off by Tramel. He told her it didn't matter...I respected him more when it did. Nonetheless Trista Russell writes with such genius, her books are completely unpredictable...even to the most seasoned reader.

I had 'going Broke' in my library and decided to read it to find out there was a sequel.So this story jumps right back into the story line.Great read and entertaining.

Love it so much I read it twice.