Cheaters
More Praise for
Cheaters…
“This is a book about dawgs. Not dogs, but d-a-w-g-s. Cheatin’, lyin’, no good, no-’count, dirty lowdown mendawgs and womendawgs…. You can’t read
Cheaters
without becoming an active participant. You easily find yourself turning a page, shaking your head, and tsk-tsking.”
—
Los Angeles Times
“Modern dating has become a world in which individuals play games to keep the upper hand. Eric Jerome Dickey explores these mores with verve…enough to make characters sing with realism.”
—
USA Today
“Wonderfully written…. Each character’s voice [is] smooth, unique and genuine…. More than just a good beach read.”
—
Washington Post Book World
“Dickey’s prose is poetic and sings with fluency.”
—
Detroit Free Press
“Captivating…plenty of sin, sex, and steam.
—
Durham Herald-Sun
“A deftly crafted tale about the games people play and the lies they tell on their search for love.”
—
Ebony
“A generous helping of humor and a distinctly male viewpoint.”
—
Atlanta Journal and Constitution
“This is the most’ ambitious novel of the bestselling author of
Milk in My Coffee
, and it truly showcases an African-American male voice in a genre dominated by women.”
—
Booklist
“Dickey’s fourth novel easily fulfills the expectations created by his earlier work and introduces a fresh sobriety to his talent for dialogue and character…smoothly done…a thoughtful step forward for its author, Dickey’s story depicts love as a world of hurt broken up by the hesitant joys available—here and there—to the experienced heart.”
—
Kirkus Reviews
“Sprinkles raw, street-savvy humor on almost every page.”
—
Publishers Weekly
Praise for
Milk in My Coffee…
“Dickey fills his novel with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing…. Along the way, he smashes one stereotype after another.”
—
USA Today
“A fresh romance…heartwarming and hilarious.”
—
Cincinnati Enquirer
“Frothy and fun…Dickey scores with characters who come to feel like old friends…smart and believable. After the last page is turned you’ll still have plenty to savor.”
—
Essence
“His characters are people we have seen walking down the street, at church, or at the family picnic…. Plain old good reading.”
—
Mosaic
“Dickey demonstrates once again…his cheerful, wittily acerbic eye for the troubles that plague lovers.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Controversial and sensitive.”
—
Today’s Black Woman
“Entertaining…humorous.”
—
Boston Herald
“Juicy…a carefully woven tapestry of vibrant characters and turbulent situations that will have you hooked.”
—
Advocate
, Orlando, FL
“Engrossing, entertaining…the surprising twists and turns bring a good novel to a very satisfying conclusion.”
—
Booklist
Praise for
Friends and Lovers…
“Recommended…Dickey uses humor, poignancy and a fresh, creative writing style…connects the story line to believable real-life issues…. The reader is hooked from the first sentence.”
—
USA Today
“A colorful, sexy tale…. Here are the men that Terry McMillan’s women were holding out for in
Waiting to Exhale.
”
—
Marie Claire
“What distinguishes Dickey from the pack is his hip prose, which crackles with wit and all the rhythm of an intoxicatingly funky rap. Dickey has an eye for detail…. A fun read.”
—
Cincinnati Enquirer
“The language sings…it flows…fluid as a rap song. Dickey can stand alone among modern novelists in capturing the flavor, rhythm and pace of Africa-America-speak. Sassy and hip.”
—
Sun-Sentinel
“[A] sexy, sophisticated portrayal of hip, black L.A…. Engaging, dynamic, skillful.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“Dickey has done a remarkable job of being not only perceptive, but also witty and moving in his portrayal of relationships.”
—
Booklist
“Speaks directly to the heart…bittersweet, honest, and souful.”
—
Dallas Weekly
Praise for
Sister, Sister…
“Dickey imagines [his characters] with affection and sympathy…. His novel achieves genuine emotional depth.”
—
Boston Globe
“Vibrant…marks the debut of a true talent.”
—
Atlanta Journal & Constitution
“A hip, sexy, wisecracking tale.”
—
New York Beacon
“Bold and sassy…brims with humor, outrageousness and…affection.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“Dickey is able both to create believable female characters and to explore the ‘sister-sister’ relationship with genuine insight.”
—
Booklist
“A good summer read you won’t be able to put down…. Depicts a hard-edged reality in which women sometimes have their dreams shattered, yet never stop embracing tomorrow.”
—
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Spirited, successful…. Dickey is a witty observant cousin to such writers as Terry McMillan and Connie Briscoe.”
—
Kirkus Reviews
“Will captivate your fancy…an engaging read.”
—
Cincinnati Herald
“One of the most intuitive and hilarious voices in African-American fiction.”
—
St. Louis American
“There’s a little sumthin’, sumthin’ in this book we can all relate to. Buy the novel, read it. Relate. Relax. Release.”
—
Crusader Urban News
Other Books by Eric Jerome Dickey
Between Lovers
Liar’s Game
Cheaters
Milk in My Coffee
Friends and Lovers
Sister, Sister
cheaters
ERIC
JEROME
DICKEY
A SIGNET BOOK
SIGNET
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinlon Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto,
Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124,
Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)
Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park,
New Delhi - 110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632,
New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue,
Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Previously published in a Dutton edition.
First Signet Printing, June 2000
Copyright © Eric Jerome Dickey, 1999
Excerpt from
Between Lovers
copyright © Eric Jerome Dickey, 2001
All rights reserved
ISBN: 978-1-101-20915-8
REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
TO MRS. VIRGINIA JERRY
love you always
thanks for picking me up
when others wanted to put me down
all you’ve ever asked
was for your family to be happy
and to stop borrowing money
your grandson
EJD
(now loan me a dollar please?)
