Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780451207654
ISBN number: 0451207653
Label: Signet
Manufacturer: Signet
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 384
Printing Date: January 07, 2003
Publishing house: Signet
Release Date: January 07, 2003
Sale Popularity Level: 476306
Studio: Signet
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
A voluptuously entertaining African-American fiction anthology about women who are livin' large-and lovin' larger!
Featuring all-new novellas Author name:
#1 Blackboard bestselling author Rochelle Alers, 'one of the top 5 most popular African-American romance writers' (Heart and Soul)
#1 Blackboard bestselling author Donna Hill, All-Time Favorite Fiction Author Award-winner (Shades of Romance)
#1 Blackboard bestselling author Brenda Jackson, winner of Viewer's Choice Best Multicultural (Romantic Times)
#1 Blackboard bestselling author, Francis Ray, whose stories 'are written from the heart [and] definitely recommended.'(Eric Jerome Dickey)
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
Let's see, of all the stories in this anthology/novella, Rochelle Alers' "Reunion" is the one I liked the most followed by Donna Hill's "Surprise", Francis Ray's "Strictly Business", then Brenda Jackson's "Bare Essentials". I won't get into details because I pretty much agree with my fellow reviewers. Ms. Alers' description of Rueben Whitfield made me happy to know that men who wear glasses are sooo FINE. Towards the end of story when Elaine "showed" Dwight what he can never have...Holla!! The storyline for "Surprise" was a surprise to me, I thought it was unique. I can understand Elizabeth's feelings about the pregnancy and Vincent's reaction as well as their daughter's, but in the end husband and wife loved each other even more and that's great. I can totally relate to Monica in "Strictly Business" and Garret loving her proves that plus-size women are just as sexy as thin women. I wasn't feeling Ms. Jackson's "Bare Essentials" but the love scene between Dominique and Jordan was HOT. I hope there's a sequel in the future maybe Dominique's sister Michelle and Jordan's brother Auburn will get together.
Rated by buyers 
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Living Large is the very first of three anthologies dedicated to and focused on the joys and passions of plus sized women. Sexy has no limits as these four bestselling authors show through entertaining short stories.
Rochelle Alers' Reunion - Elaine Jackson Stuart is looking forward to her upcoming 25 year class reunion. The beautiful real estate broker with a "size sixteen frame was certain to turn at least a few heads." She is a little nervous though. Her perfect marriage to her high school sweetheart recently ended in divorce. This will be the very first time facing her old classmates alone. Or will it? Elaine may have found a date with whom she least expected.
Donna Hill's Surprise - Restaurant owner and caterer Elizabeth Howell lives by the motto: "Live large, and not just in size, but attitude." At 52, she and her husband are in their prime. Their two children are grown and living their own lives away from home. Business is great. Now they have time for themselves as a couple. Or do they? Elizabeth has a surprise that will shock her family and friends.
Brenda Jackson's Bare Essentials - "Full-sized and stacked," Judge Dominique Kincaid is in control. Inside and outside the courtroom. Judge Kincaid soon finds herself loosing control as a handsome jogger catches her eye. What happens when the jogger, attorney Jordan Prescott enters her life, inside and outside the courtroom? Can she maintain control?
Francis Ray's Strictly Business - "Curvaceous" Monica Jones is the vice president of her family's business. Her father has contracted with Garret McKnight's company. Garret also happens to be irresistibly attractive and Monica's new neighbor. Determined not to make the mistake of mixing business and pleasure, Monica has her work cut of for her as the two will be working very closely together. Can Garret break down the barriers Monica has erected around herself? Business has brought them together, can love keep them together?
Reviewed by Toni Mac
For BBW Reviews
Rated by buyers 
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I am not a big fan of the whole "novellas" format, but since I'm working my way through all of Brenda Jackson's books, I got this one. Her story "Bare Essentials" is the only one I kind of liked -- except for the ending. The love scene alone made me really look forward to my subsequent workout session with my husband! :) However, the plot was thin and the editing was non-existant.
I guess I'm tired of everything ending in these rushed weddings. Come on! Maybe since I've been reading romance novels for less than a year I'm a bit more critical, but I do expect character development. How can each and every hero and heroine go through the same thing "I've never felt this way before", "no man has EVER kissed me like that", "I knew from the moment I saw her that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her". Give me a break!
The one saving grace is that the women in this book aren't a perfect size 6 and are able to show a sexy confident side. I just got Welcome to Leo's so I hope that collection of stories is better.
Rated by buyers -
The main reason I picked up this book was because three of my favorite authors were in it. Rochelle Alers, Donna Hill and Brenda Jackson. Having these three authors in one book is such a delightful treat. Living Large is a collection of four short stories about full figured women who not only exemplify sexiness, but these sisters are intelligent and very loving.
Reunion - Rochelle Alers (Rating of 5)
Reunion finds Elaine Jackson Stewart meeting up with an old friend, Reuben Whitfield. Reuben was the school nerd nick named "The Scientist" who grew up to be a very handsome successful dentist. A man who is sparking flames in Elaine she thought was long put out. Reuben has always loved Elaine because she was always so nice to him. Now that she is divorced from her college sweetheart he wants to let his old friend know how he feels and hopes she will open her heart to feel the same.
My favorite part of the story was when Dwight, Elaines ex wants to get back into Elaine's life. When Elaine shows him what he will never get again all I could do was shout "You go girl!!!!"
Surprise - Donna Hill (Rating of 5)
Elizabeth has returned from a two week spa trip to put the spark back in her marriage. The surprise she has will change their lives forever and is very unexpected. This story is really sweet. The way her husband dots all over Elizabeth is wonderful, but at very first I was very angry at his initial response. When I thought about it I had to realize that it was a shock, so his reaction is not too far fetched. During the exchange between Elizabeth and her adopted daughter I had actual tears in my eyes. It was also nice to see an older couple still living life to the fullest and so very much in love. I hope when I'm in my 50's I'm that lucky to still be very much in love, minus the surprise of course. This story was very sweet and very touching.
Brenda Jackson - Bare Essentials (Rating of 5)
Brenda Jackson has yet to disappoint, and let me tell you this story is hot, hot, hot, and did I mention this story is hot!! Judge Dominique catches the eye of la handsome lawyer. Feelings she thought long gone have come back to turn her life into a tail spin, and she goes out of her way to avoid this handsome gentleman. Jordan wants to see her again, and when he realizes she is a judge for a case he is looking into he sees that as his chance to approach her and let her know he is very interested in her. The thing is he vowed never to get involve with someone he works in law, but he finds himself drawn to Dominique.
The love scenes in this story had me screaming "Order in the court!!!" I would not mind having a personal training session like this one!!! This story was very nice, and was very sensual. When it comes to a Brenda Jackson story, you know it will be awesome.
Strictly Business - Francis Ray (Rating of 2)
Monica Jones works at her fathers firm, and just broke up with her untrusting boyfriend when she caught him with another woman. Monica has decided no more business mixed with pleasure and is concentration on her career and her upcoming trip to Rome. Enter Garret McKnight. What he wants, he gets, and he wants Monica. He has to convince Monica that he is action and not just full of talk. Monica wants to keep their relationship strictly business. Her sorry ex keeps trying to get back into Monica's life and it takes Garret to tell Bryn to step off!!! This was my least favorite story. With Francis Ray her stories are hit or miss, and I don't like a lot of her stories. This is the only story I won't be reading again.
The stories by Rochelle, Brenda and Donna are simply awesome. You have characters who are various age ranges, all the women are successful professional women, and all of the women work out which is excellent. You even have one character who is a virgin, which I know many people won't believe, but they do exist. This is a book I will read over and over again with the exception of Francis Ray's story. This book is worth owning and adding to your personal book collection. I gave the book a rating of 4 only because I gave Francis story a 2 rating. The other stories I rate a 5.
Rated by buyers -
I am totally agreeable that larger sized women are sexy and very romantic. So, I was excited to see this book on the library's shelf. Unfortuantly, it didn't live up to my expectations. The short stories were sweet, but not really developed. It's a nice light read, but I it left me wanting to know more about the characters and how other
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