A Butler Christmas

Naim Butler #1

by Rahiem Brooks

"Brooks’s clunky first Naim Butler contemporary romantic thriller has strong characters...The well-developed relationships among the characters propel the story until the addition of suspense very late in the book..."--Publishers Weekly

Naim Butler, a rainmaker, has perfected the art of sentencing mitigation, as a partner with Manhattan power-firm, Baker and Keefe. He's the kind of captivating and accomplished man that therapists vent too. His bachelorhood is turned upside down when an old flame, Sinia Love, drops a seventeen-year-old son into his lap forcing him to balance this revelation and his budding romance with Brandy Scott.

Professionally, Naim's assigned to prove a man's innocence of murder is filthy work itself, but catastrophic when an envious lover of Sinia Love's sets out to kill him while hiding amongst the glitterati of Manhattan's upper crust.

Genres: Christmas

278 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2017

About the author

Rahiem Jerome Brooks is the breakout novelist and is a member of the Mystery Writer's of America. His debut thriller, LAUGH NOW won 2010 African-Americans on the Move Book Club's (AAMBC) Book of the Year & he earned 2011 AAMBC Author of the Year. LAUGH NOW also the Most Creative Plot at the DMV Expo's Creative Excellent Awards. Rahiem was also nominated at the 2011 & 2012 African-American Literary Awards for Mystery of the Year for Con Test and Murder in Germantown.

Rahiem Brooks worked on a Film/TV certificate program at University of California, Los Angeles; however, he currently studies English at Harvard University.

He permanently resides in Philadelphia, PA. with a manx.

Reviews

[Rhea Alexis M Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an Advance Reader Copy for a pre-publication review when I read it.

A Butler Christmas is the journey of: did wrong, paid the price, did right, grew and succeeded.... "in spite of." And, was much "in spite of" but so goes life. This novel is our introduction to Naim Butler because clearly, he's just getting started therefore, there must be more to come. I am so looking forward to reading more of him.

Naim Butler is an ace in sentencing mitigation and a partner with Baker and Keefe, one of the most prestigious law firms in Manhattan. He's successful, personable and fine as a great wine. His life is progressing and on the steady rise when he learns that he has a 17 year old son, Marco. They meet and establish the foundation of what type of relationship they will have.

Naim meets Brandy Scott in a very fortunate situation for her and romance blooms. This to the disdain of Marco's mother, Sinia Love, a definite "in spite of," whose dismissal of a paramour ignites another bomb in Naim life. This novel is chucked full of systemic paths that are entwined to create a dramatically engage read.

Mr. Brooks has penned a tale that draws you in and blankets you in a cocoon of curiosity and awaiting what's next. I didn't want this story to end and I am definitely awaiting more.

[WriteVibeMagazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nate Butler is a man with a colorful past. He spent a little time in federal prison and used that time to motivate himself to overcome his obstacles. He was in a relationship but the relationship ended once he went to jail. Fast forward seventeen years and Nate is doing outstanding for himself. He went to college, got a degree, garnered a position tailored just for him and financially he doing well. He owns a property that is worth millions, great job, yet he is single until a chance meeting changes his perspective.

Everything is good until he learns he has a 17-year-old son, named Marco who is something of a prodigy. He is outstandingly smart and mature for his age. Also, add that there are forces and people working in the background who don’t want to see Nate succeed anymore. They are looking to murder his career and if not his career, him. Nate has to stay ahead of the game in this fight to protect his name, career, and new found son. Will he succeed?

Brooks penned a good legal suspense novel that I am rating four stars. Brooks gave us a background look into a different world we don’t see other than on TV and made it realistic. Kudos to the author.

Format: Kindle
Review Copy Supplied By Publisher

[Kim Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I sat down with Rahiem Brooks’, A Butler Christmas, I was hoping the pages of his book would take me away on a brief holiday escape. I put the Christmas tree up, made a cup of hot cocoa and pulled on my fuzzy socks, ready to see where the words would carry me.

After a brief prologue, the story began with an attractive Naim Butler jogging along a city street in New York. Within the first few pages, he gallantly comes to the rescue of a damsel who has enough confidence to think that she doesn’t need saving. With that scene, the author had me hooked. I wanted to keep turning the pages and see where that relationship went.

Brooks kept me waiting though, as he dove into the main relationship of the book, that of Naim and the son he never knew, Marco. With the introduction of his son, Naim also is forced to confront his relationship with the boy’s mother.

A Butler Christmas isn’t just about the complicated relationships of a man who has built a successful life after spending time in federal prison. Somebody also has it out for Naim, and he has to figure out who that is as the threat comes very close to home, making him realize that there is much more at stake in his life as his family and personal ties grow.

For me – A Butler Christmas delivered. Mission accomplished. It took me away to the city and enjoying the view from Naim’s multi-million dollar home. I never found the story predictable, and had to keep turning the pages to see where we would go from that first jog along Central Park. Brooks’ writing style is not over wordy and kept a good pace.

I give A Butler Christmas a very festive four stars. From the very beginning I was anxious to interview the author, Rahiem Brooks, and find out just how he was able to portray such an accurate reflection of our justice system. The book was a good mix of mystery and romance, which kept me intrigued throughout. My romantic side would have liked to have seen a little bit more of Naim and his new lady friend. But, overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

[Thea Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Family intrigue. New love. And murder. What more can you ask for?

[L. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naim Butler is the kind of man that should be teaching young boys how to grow into men. After a few arrests, while living in Chicago, he's convinced to move to New Orleans to attend Tulane University. He is then recruited by a New York law firm and off to New York he goes, growing into a sophisticated and special man. What he doesn't know is that he left more than family and friends behind in Chicago and seventeen years later, during the Christmas holiday, the best gift arrives at his front door.

I was impressed with this story and think that it is a must-read for young men of all colors and anyone that likes a good mystery. The family drama is beautifully written. Naim is the perfect picture of picking yourself up and never quitting. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Sarah Brazell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book for LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

I overall liked this book. The main character, Naim, is pretty likable, but overall lives a really unrealistic, albeit glamorous life. I was not a huge fan of his son, Marco, who had a really odd transition in meeting his father and really lacked humility. Marco was way too perfect to believe. Between the two of them, things, went "wrong" but they both seemed to be untouchable. I did really appreciate the suspense aspects of this novel, although got a bit fuzzy in the end with the- er, Doctor. I mean Professor.

For the romantic relationships, I was totally confused by Naim and Sinia's relationship. As the book begins it seems that they're already together in a sense, but this is never explained. He treats her like crap and she's a mess. I really liked Naim's relationship with Brandy, but it seemed too good to be true. The beginning of the relationship seemed like she was going to eventually blackmail him, but then she never did and just became a steady, supportive girlfriend and all of the suspense died.
I did like Marco's relationship with Amber and it was believable.

The prologue of this book, where the President wants to pardon Naim for the BAR exam or whatever, it was really suspenseful, but came to a head in the middle of the book, and I found the political aspect of this book confusing. It would have made more sense for the political storyline to exist more mainstream in the story, but it totally took a backseat.
The biggest problem I had with this book were typos. I read a ton, and seeing typos in a novel that I'm assuming is already on shelves is the sloppiest thing I could think of. I also found a lot of question marks where Is seemed that periods should be, and vice versa. Super confusing. For those reasons, I wouldn't recommend it to a friend, but I don't regret reading this book. I read it on my kindle. Thank you!

[Lashawone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does the path you’re meant to travel stop when a bad decision is made? Or are like the Phoenix, formed in the fire and destined for greatness, once consumed. For Naim Butler, he was most definitely formed in the pits of fire. From dire circumstances, Butler’s life choices were a product of his environment. However, that wasn’t the end for him, one could call it; just a prelude. After turning his life around, Butler became the first non-practicing partner at the law offices of Barker and Keefe, a prestigious law firm in Manhattan. Life for Naim Butler was exceptional…

A fury of events including finding out about his now seventeen-year-old son, Marco and the chance meeting of Brandy Scott sets a change of pace for Butler. And once again, just like a Phoenix he rises to the occasion and is determined to be the kind of father He wished was a part of his life.

Great books are formed by details they present. It’s all in the details, and Brooks made sure not to leave them out. Combining his love of a mystery with a hint romance, Brooks is definitely one to watch. This introduction to Naim Butler is one I didn’t want to end right away. The flow and pace were steady enough to keep the reading experience engaging while pulling you deeper into the world of Butler. I am looking forward to seeing where this series will go. Five Stars
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[Juma Juma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book from cover to cover. This feels like a Black Panther moment. A book that represents an African American men and family in a light that doesn't include drugs dealers. Can't wait to read the second book.

Merged review:

An excellent romance with a dash of mystery. Just an exciting read that I enjoyed. It was refreshing to see AA characters in the positions that Mr. Brooks placed these main characters. Ready to start book two.

[Shiba Anie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read an ARC won through Library Thing and I have to say this was an excellent book. Full of family drama, but it was tastefully done, sorta how James Patterson writes urban themes in his Cross Series. The author's spin and subplot centered around the criminal justice system was eye-opening. Kudos. I recommend this.

[Daryia Dinkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there is one thing that I enjoy as an author, it is getting to read great books in another genre other than my own. I had the privilege of reading and now reviewing, A Butler Christmas.

R. Jerome Brooks delivers. I truly had to pace myself; slowly savoring the main character of Naim Butler.

What do you do when you have been working hard to turn your life around, find out you have a seventeen-year-old son you never knew about and an ex that lives to manipulate and try to destroy your happiness? You turn on the charm, get your poker face in place, and never let your enemy see you coming; even if you don’t know who your enemy may be.

Naim Butler has been working diligently to erase his past and the mistakes he has made. Including giving his heart to a woman that left him when he needed her the most. Twenty years have passed, and Naim has turned his life around. He is successful, wealthy, and has no problems with the ladies. As he is moving up the ladder in his career, he learns that he has a son. Conflicting emotions war inside him, but nothing he cannot handle; especially if it means being the kind of father he never had.

Charm—with slight arrogance—and the ability to walk that narrow line between right and wrong attributes to the strength and sexiness of Naim’s character. Along with his equally charming son, Marco—the two are a dynamic duo that one book is not enough to contain. They are characters that readers will easily fall in love with and demand more of.

R. Jerome Brooks delivers a delicious and sexy mix of suspense that will have you falling in love with the charismatic Naim Butler, and his equally charming son, Marco. Woven with tales straight from today’s headlines, to A Butler Christmas’ conveys realism and authenticity in dialogue. Brooks brilliantly intertwines romance and suspense, taking his reader on a luxurious ride of highs and lows, wondering with bated breath how the story will end while simultaneously wishing for more

[Shir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as an escape from everday life. It doesn't require any serious thinking or analysis, so it's a fun read. I'm taking away a star because there were several grammatical changes that could have easily been changed before publication, mostly too many commas - they were distracting. Also, the plot saved the book from the author's descriptions of the characters' bodies, which were borderline smut (always describing the men as muscular and overpowering and manly, and the women as gorgeous with big breasts and butts), with characters frequently flirting and eyeballing each other.

[Jamal Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, a book that inspires men to succeed and work hard. It was truly a pleasure to see a black lead character that was smart and dedicated to being a law-abiding citizen despite an early adulthood arrest.

A Butler Christmas centers around, Naim Butler and his son, Marco. Naim is a mitigation specialist that works with federal defense attorneys to present mitigating factors to judges to help craft sentences for defendants. The author's overarching point is that although someone commits an offense, perhaps as a society we should look to correct the circumstance leading to the crime, as opposed to simply locking up men and throwing away the key. This is true for men of all races, albeit this book having an African-American lead. While Naim is working hard he has forces that don't want to see him advance in his profession. He has some allies, but are they working to help him or their political agendas. This is a true legal crime thriller.

On the romance side, Naim is pursuing a relationship with Brandy Scott, a New York Times editor. Their commitment is budding along smoothly until Brandy receives an e-mail about Naim's past crimes. And you won't believe who sent it to her.

And, then, there is Marco, the prodigal son. Despite not knowing Naim until he's 17-years-old, it's quite apparent based on his school work ethic, his extra-curricular activities, and his acceptance to four ivy-league schools that he is Naim's son. They both work hard and work to be on top of anything that they do. It's in the genes. The DNA.

In the end, this is a must-read. It has all sorts of glimpses of hope and redemption, but most importantly, the bond between father and son is a model that should be duplicated in homes across America.

[Donna’s Book Addiction · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was a very fantastical tale. It was quaint and unreal all in one motion. I truly loved the authors creativity to bring an African American male character out of the crime and poverty aspect and made him (Naim) a charming, sexy and smart businessman with high ambition (that was genius). However, the new blended family of a prodigy son who was perfect that shows up on his doorstep at the age of 17 was overstretched and refreshing at the same time.

I didn't understand the love/hate relationship of his ex-wife, Sinia. Why wouldn't she have resided in one of the guest rooms within Naims' large New York brownstone mansion. The sexual relations between her and the main character where so misplaced and complicated my expectations in the flow of the story.

Near the end where Amber rebelled against her father was a bit confusing to me. Was she living with Marco and did Naim know about if?

Overall the novel flowed with the drama, suspense and interesting characters. I look forward to reading his next novel.