Bliss: A Novel [Hardcover]

Danyel Smith's sophomore novel, Bliss, is a tale of a behind the scenes music diva, Eva Glenn. As a record exec, Eva has seen a lot during her career in the music industry.

The novel spins around Eva's quest to find the type of happiness that no amount of money can buy. She escapes to an island in the Bahamas with hopes of finding the joy that's been missing from her life.

The author cleverly inserts music lingo in the story, but don't be confused, it's not your typical hip-hop story. In fact, the music is only the backdrop to a deeper story. How can one have success, but still feel lost?

During her down period, Eva contemplates on whether or not to keep her baby after a number of previous abortions. She also must come to grips with her non-committed relationships with D'artagnan Addison (DART) and Ronald Littlejohn (Ron).

Ms. Smith's novel BLISS is a gripping story from beginning to end. After reading it, you'll feel educated about the music industry and entertained at the same time.

Reviewed by Shelia M Goss, Essence Best Selling Author of My Invisible Husband and Roses are Thorns, Violets are True.

Danyel Smith's BLISS is a novel of self-discovery and love. Eva is a sexy, independent, strong-willed executive in the music business that is dominated by men who have labeled her Evil Eva. During the late 1990s, with hip-hop and the music trade as the background, Eva has worked hard to garner her position in the music world where the battle for respect is a never-ending fight. While at an industry function on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, she must confront a turning point in her career, her love for two men and the possibility of being pregnant. With the help of one of her lovers, she flees Paradise Island in search of some answers and truths.

Eva's escape is really a time for her to think about the decisions she has made in her personal and professional life. She also must examine the truths she has tried so hard to hide from when thinking about her mother, her personal relationships and who she really is. While on Cat Island in the Bahamas, Eva finds herself in the midst of all the denials and lies and makes a critical decision that will alter not only her life, but also the lives of others. With acknowledgment of her past and acceptance of her future, she begins to embrace her truths that she has denied for so long. This means being honest about her mother, a possible change in her career and just maybe becoming a mother.

Danyel Smith has written a novel with prose that is deliberate, sensual and witty. She gives the reader a strong heroine who is complicated and flawed. When anxiety over her life becomes frantic, Eva escapes in search of her truth and herself. Danyel Smith paints a gorgeous picture with words and phrases to take readers on Eva's journey of self-discovery. One would be remiss to not mention this novel is laden with information on the music industry, through which the author gives an up-close and personal view of the behind-the-scenes workings of the business. Additionally, Ms. Smith gives us a musical history of hip-hop, R & B and pop music. I found myself reminiscing about the songs mentioned throughout the story, not to mention trying to sing them. The characters are well-developed and realistic. The writing style is uniquely Ms. Smith's. She eloquently puts words to paper in a manner that gives you time to digest and feel what she is trying to convey. Her pacing tends to be deliberately slow, but in a thoughtful way. The beauty of the words, the path of the main character's discovery and the music are what readers will take from Ms. Smith's newest offering. BLISS, with everything it is offering, will resonate long after the final page is read.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals

of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

In her second novel titled Bliss, Danyel Smith, explores the decadent world of the hip-hop industry during the late 90s. Smith introduces the reader to a formidable, sometimes sexy, sometimes sultry, sometimes `evil' but always keeping it real character known as Eva Glenn.

Via Eva, a woman's point of view is used to expose the reader to the hip-hop music industry. Eva Glenn is the IT girl--but what price does she have to pay to stay at the top of an industry that is dominated by white men, vicious cutthroat environments, rampant backstabbing and few women or minorities at the executive level, or in the board room, where the power deals are made.

As Bliss opens, we witness Eva doing what she does best--hosting a glitzy showcase in Paradise Islands, Bahamas for one of the shining stars under her Roadshow Records label. As readers' journeys with Eva, we quickly realize that although she exudes a cool, calm and collective outer exterior, internally--Eva is juggling a lot of balls in the air and realizing that all of them might come crashing down at a moments notice. Eva has been in the music industry so long and has put her personal life on eternal hold that she has forgotten that she might just want what many other woman want--a child, husband, and a home with the white picket fence. Her stay in Paradise Islands leads to some serious soul-searching as she looks deep within to make some arduous decisions regarding an unexpected pregnancy, her all-consuming career and a wicked love triangle.

Set against the backdrop of love and music, Smith's latest novel is sometimes quirky, sometimes eccentric and sometimes brutally honest about the music business. At times, the novel's hip-hop emphasis was lost on me (my musical preference is R&B, Jazz), however, I enjoyed reading about the behind the scenes business view of the industry as well as hanging out with Eva and her flaky sidekicks. This contemporary literary read is great for passing the time on a lazy summer day.

Reviewed by Yasmin

APOOO BookClub

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