I found a review (quite by mistake-why i don't get notified is beyond me) for my book The Ghetto.  It's a love/hate review.  It seems the reviewer was turned off by some of the gruesome horror scenes in it but couldn't put it down.  The interesting thing is that I laughed when I wrote the book as I imagined the reactions of the audience to obviously staged urban scenes.

I'll post the review below along with the link.  Then I'll add a little horror snippet for you all to read.  BUY THIS BOOK!

REVIEW:

 http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/2011/11/ghetto-by-keiko-alvarez.html?zx=8dca97c6b09f404c

If a murder happens before your eyes, was it really a murder?

The Ghetto is the hottest attraction in Atlantic City, an adult fun house where the frights aren't supplied by skeletons and goblins popping out of the dark, but by ghetto scenes played out in front of the audience. When a loud mouth patron and his companion are executed, the audience howls with delight. After all, it was all part of the show. Or was it?

The Ghetto is an adult performance art show that is interactive and invites audience participation. During the show, some pretty gruesome scenes are depicted that seem to be meant to shock and disgust the audience. I like the horror stories, but some of these were a little too much for me.  

The Ghetto has a lot of characters and really no main characters. I think the author is trying to make a point that things aren’t always what they seem. There are a few unexpected twists and turns throughout The Ghetto but it moved so quickly that I didn’t have time to get invested in the story. I was looking forward to a much more suspenseful and deeper story than what I felt I got.

If you are looking for a story that has a bit of realism, suspense, and a pinch of romance that moves quickly then pick up The Ghetto. It is well written with only a few misused words that will make you stop and do a double take. The Ghetto is a nice break from the usual, but could use something a little more to just give the reader a punch. But, it is the perfect story if you know you don't have a lot of time!

SNIPPET

Kristy and Ricky exchanged a glance just as the lights went off and the audience was encased in darkness again. Green arrows at the front of the line sizzled to life, indicating to the crowd the way they were to proceed.

“I don’t know what that woman sees in that guy,” Ricky whispered to Kristy. “I mean, she’s kind of cute and...”

“He’s her boss. She told me. She…she likes him because…”

The crowd stopped when the green arrows turned to red. An overhead light began to build slowly, gradually revealing a scene to the audience’s left. This scene was somehow different, though–a glass divider about three feet high separated the audience from the actor in the scene.

“Oh, God,” Kristy cried. “Why a glass divider? What’s...”

“Jesus, help me,” a voice called out. The overhead lights grew brighter, but the scene was still only dimly lit. A large, overweight black woman wearing a dirty white dress stood by a table, crying.

“Jesus, help me feed my baby,” she sobbed. More light revealed a baby bassinet sitting on the table. It rocked back and forth on occasion, but, for the most part, it was still. “My baby’s starving, Lord. Help me.”

“Get a job and help yourself,” Parker shouted.

“That’s not funny,” someone shouted back at him.

“Yeah, well I’m my taxes being use to feed lazy...”

White light suddenly flooded the scene, revealing fat rats ambling back and forth along the edge of the glass partition.

“Oh my God! Ricky!” Kristy screamed.

“Sh...sh...shit!” Ricky hollered.

“Lab rats,” Parker laughed.

“Jesus, Frank!” Connie shouted. “They’re rats and I don’t care what type they are. Get me away from them.”

Parker ignored Connie and instead shouted for everyone to hear, “They’re only lab rats.”

Everyone, including Parker, jumped when the black woman let loose a piercing scream. “My baby!” she hollered. “My baby is dead!” She reached into the bassinet and pulled out a rat. “It killed it. It ate my baby’s face!”

The room fell black as the lights went out. Kristy slumped in Ricky’s arms on the verge of passing out. “Please,” she moaned. “No more.”