Product Description

Meet Maya Hope. Double-dipped in cocoa with brick-house curves, she's a lover of jazz, a political poet, and a sociologist. Her best friend and roommate, Athena Jackson, is her opposite in every way -- a petite ex-cheerleader who's always blaring rap, grinding out rhymes, and ready to take the next man home. When Maya is forced to pinch-hit in an audition and bust Athena's rhymes, she finds herself on an undercover escapade in the wild world of hip-hop as the raw, sexy, roughneck Jezebel. After striking a deal with her own personal devil, Maya sets off on the tempting roller-coaster ride of a lifetime -- finding music, more fun than she's ever had, and even a man or two...but not without consequences. Brimming with electric sensuality, Dare is an unforgettable, envelope-pushing odyssey of two gutsy women playing by their own rules.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #939817 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Review
"Abiola Abrams is best known as the host of BET's The Best Shorts. Her first novel, Dare, is a Faustian tale set in the world of hip hop. Abrams has a keen ear for dialog, and though almost outrageous at times, her characters are believable and often fascinating. Dare may end up in several nooks of your bookstore, filed under "chick lit," "African American literature," or even in the burgeoning "street lit" genre. Don't be fooled by the labels, this is a promising and enjoyable debut." -- David Gutowski, Large Hearted Boy

"Abiola Abrams' debut is like a breath of fresh air for young fiction and the depiction of women in hip hop. Finally, the world will see the conflicted struggles of ladies in the rap biz in a way that women in hip hop have known and understood for years." -- Raqiyah Mays, Writer/Radio Personality on Hot 97 & 98.7 Kiss FM

"Abrams uses the mystery, bling and oft times violence of the hip-hop world, the rapper's delight, if you will, as a backdrop for a strangely twisted coming of age story. Sometimes lovers, both old and new, don't know what to make of a caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly. Neither do friends, for that matter. But what happens when a woman looks around, finds herself hiding in a corner, and coaxes herself out to play? Now that's the stuff good books are made of. Taking a DARE doesn't get any more enlightening than this." -- The Rawsistaz Reviewers

"DARE is the first novel by Abiola Abrams, who is also a filmmaker and a pretty dynamic sister. The book is a hip-hop retelling of Faust, but as Abrams acutely describes, it's about "finding love and finding yourself." I thought this book was dope for several reasons. Including: 1) It represents what great hip-hop fiction can be: smart, edgy, hip-hop inspired, but not just hip-hop, empowering, and provocative. 2) It's a great story about living life, not just existing, and makes you think about your own journey thus far. 3) It's fun and entertaining." -- AOL Black Voices

"Filmmaker Abiola Abrams blends literary and hip hop sensibilities for a daring debut." -- Upscale Magazine

From the Author
Thank you so much to all of the wonderful readers, book clubs, magazines, book stores, radio shows and students who have embraced my debut novel Dare. I wanted to present this audience with something unique, poetic, well-written, and different than the fiction that we are used to. Someone asked me if readers were ready for a fun, smart and satirical adventure about friendship, drama and love that happens to be set in the world of hip hop; a story, as one Amazon reader put it, that is not about "gangstas, pimps, hustlers or hos," and the answer is a resounding yes! Thank you readers, for showing with your many enthusiastic letters that crashed my site that Dare is the book you were waiting for, and that their are many different kinds of books to serve our audience, and all are valid and necessary.

From the Back Cover
Provocative. Empowering. Outrageous. Fearless. There are many ways to describe Abiola Abrams, the BET host, feminist filmmaker and creator of The Goddess Factory-she's a dash of Oprah Winfrey, a sprinkling of Martha Stewart, plus a healthy dose of Candace Bushnell. What would be the result if she poured her life changing energy into a novel? Dig in and find out how far she goes in a phenomenally fun and entertaining fiction debut...

Customer Reviews

SEXY AND SEDUCTIVE
Maya Hope was hopeless. After she left her fiancé, her world and her life seemed doomed to failure. Then a chance meeting with the biggest name in the hip hop industry thrusts Maya into the national spotlight.

Going undercover to expose the playas and the hatas in the business, what Maya didn't expect was to lose herself in the music. Can Maya survive, or will Maya Hopeless fail yet again?

The debut novel from Abiola Abrams is sleek. Her expose of the hip hop world is entertaining and intriguing. Each character is interesting and colorful, making the reader to learn more about them.

Abrams's book is a fantastic first attempt. Readers are not going to be able to put it down. They will become lost in the behind-the-scenes world of hip hop and will never want to leave. -4 Stars - Reviewed by Leigh O'Donovan, Authors on the Rise Book Reviews.

So good I had to write a review NOW.....
I ordered this book, not really knowing what to expect. I LOVE it! I haven't finished yet, and I had to stop long enough to write this review. That's how good the book is. I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by the author's talent at weaving a believable tale that is NOTHING like what's out in the mainstream media right now. I've been sick of reading the same ol' thing. You know, girl meets boy, girl has trust issues and diva'tude,girl loses boy, girl gets boy back and life is all good again.

Well, this book has so much more meat to gnaw on than that. My favorite character is Maya. She has some self-esteem issues and she's still trying to figure out WHO she is, but when she finally finds herself, LOOK OUT! DARE is an urban literary treat. Don't believe me, grab a copy of this book for yourself if you want to be convinced!

I dare you to read this and not find something you'll love!
Maya and Athena have been sisters of the heart since gradeschool days, but they're nothing alike. Maya's a Masters degree level sociologist, a poet, and a political activist. Athena's a cheerleader, a rapper wannabe, and though Maya loves her--she thinks her roommate's 'easy'.

But love is thicker than disagreements and the bonds of sisterhood are strong between these two sister-friends. When Athena's Mom becomes ill and Athena cannot make the rapper audition of a lifetime, Maya comes and does Athena's audition.

When Maya's audacity causes her to win, Athena convinces her to take a sabbatical from her job and continue the ruse until they can get things straightened out and get Athena her chance to shine.

Maya thinks she's crazy, til Athena DARES her. Now, these two women aren't children, but Maya can't refuse that dare.

"Dare" is a beautifully written book by a woman whose soul is full of light and who obviously wants to brighten up her reader's lives, too. You not only get a heart-rending tale of a strong woman's life, you get life lesson's as well. Abiola Abrams has filled "Dare" with personal dares that will change your life if you open yourself up to them--one of these is a "Beauty Day". No, this isn't pampering at the spa, it's noticing and acknowledging beauty everywhere.

Ms. Abrams writes with the rhymic beauty of both a musician and a poet. Her imagery is strong with color and sensory impressions. Scenes from "Dare" will bring tears to your eyes and leave you laughing and cheering.

You don't have to love rap or hip hop to love this book. You do need poetry in your soul and be willing to open up and learn--because Maya does have some amazing insights into life in general.

Go on--read the first chapter on this page. I dare you. Bet you won't put the book down til you're done. I also bet you're going to keep the book for the rules and the inspirational material in between the narrative.

Rebecca Kyle, April 2008