Do You Take This Woman?

by R.M. Johnson

Inseparable throughout childhood after Pete's abandonment by an addicted mother, Pete and Wayne find their adult bond tested by a shared attraction to Carla, who ends her engagement to an unfaithful Wayne but continues their affair in spite of her subsequent marriage to Pete. 40,000 first printing.

Genres: African American

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

RM Johnson was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. After high school, he served five years in the United States Army. After which he received his Bachelors degree in science, from the University of Louisiana. He worked as an x-ray technologist, and radiation therapist for a number of years while continuously working on his writing, and earned a Masters degree in creative writing from Chicago State University

In 1996, RM wrote THE HARRIS MEN, and in 1999 it was published by Simon & Schuster. It was received with critical acclaim and quickly became a best-seller.

Since then, RM Johnson has written nine novels, to include the best-sellers, THE HARRIS FAMILY, DATING GAMES, and THE MILLION DOLLAR DIVORCE. STACIE AND COLE was his first young adult novel, published in December 2007 by Hyperion Books.

His latest novel, THE MILLION DOLLAR DECEPTION is the sequel to THE MILLION DOLLAR DIVORCE.

In June of 2009, RM threw his ring into the non-fiction ring with WHY MEN FEAR MARRIAGE.

THE MILLION DOLLAR DEMISE is his latest novel.

Reviews

[Linda Boyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seriously!!!!! This book was so out of control! Wayne and Pete are friends/brothers who both claim to have fallen in love with this woman Carla. The 3 of them totally made a mess out of their lives. Pete saw her first - but Wayne got her - then had an affair before they could get married - Pete told her about the affair - then he got with her and they got married - then she starts to see Wayne behind Petes back.......who lives like that!!!! I'm glad this was not the first book I have read by RM Johnson, it was so totally unbelievable.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
Wayne and Pete are best friends who had been raised as brothers since elementary school. From adolescence to med school to now co-owning a private practice together, nothing could break their familial bond…except for a woman.

Pete saw Carla first but Wayne had the confidence to actually pursue her. Wayne felt like Carla was the love of his life but when an opportunity to get one last thrill in presents itself just days before he is supposed to marry her, he can’t help but to take it. Pete decides the right thing to do is to tell Carla about her soon to be husband’s infidelity and of course is there to help mend her broken heart. He is so there for her, in fact, that he eventually marries her himself.

I know RM Johnson is an excellent storyteller because the plot was ridiculously absurd yet the book still managed to be a page-turner. Not a single one of the main characters was likable. Wayne was an immature cheater, Pete was manipulative with no backbone and Carla was a selfish indecisive user. 🥴 What I described in my summary wasn’t even half of the preposterous mess these characters got into lol. Pete and Wayne set themselves up for failure thinking their relationship could remain the same after such a major shift. I have no words for Carla’s exhausting self. I commend one of the characters for actually attempting to redeem themself but by that time, it seemed like it was far too late

There were so many literally jaw dropping moments and I did not see that ending coming at all.

[ShayBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book by R.M Johnson that I really did not care for. The whole time it seemed like Pete and Wayne were in high school fighting over a girl. "she was mine first. Carla pissed me off with her double standard, she may have not slept with Wayne at first but she might as well have cause that is all was on her mind the whole time she was with Pete. I hate what happened in the end but I was glad she did not end up with neither one of them. Felt sorry for Michelle. I will continue to read RM Johnson, I love his books.

[K Riquena Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed reading ‘Do You Take This Woman?’ by RM Johnson. It was a very good audio-book (read via Scribd app) that kept me interested. I loved the dynamic between friends Pete & Wayne for many reasons because it showed that sometimes it is not only women who go through emotional turmoil, romantically, involving the same person. I loved that it was a great story that I could follow, and in some cases, relate to. RM Johnson is a great author and his novels are a great contribution to the literary world.

[Kayla]

This is a really good book if you love drama, and like to be on the edge of your seat for books. Carla is a trashy, manipulative, gas lighting, confused “whore”, who really doesn’t know what she wants in her love life. And if you want to figure that out with her, this book is really good for that. This book is filled with multiple emotions that you’re gonna go through with the characters. Have a good read lol

[Kendra Broomfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listen. Giving this book 3 stars is very generous. This was a hot mess from start to finish and frankly, very childish. Two best friends falling for the same girl and being with said girl within a short period of time as adults when both the men share a business together. It was beyond messy and honestly very unrealistic. I've read other books by RM so this won't deter me, but I honestly hate read it after I figured out what was really going on.

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Two childhood friends fall in love with the same woman in a bizarre love triangle. The tagline is misleading, I found very little "redemption". None of the primary characters are likable or even sympathetic and the level of toxicity just pours through every decision they make. This is my first time reading from this author, I assume his other books are far better.

[HoneyButterfly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narcissism and hypocrisy is real in this story. The author told a great story and somewhat believable/ realistic. However, I did not like the ending... too sad

[Needra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book twice already! Once when I was 13 and again at 25 years of age. Loved it the first time and hated it the second time but I still loved it in a weird way

[MBenzz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a hard book to review because while the story was COMPLETELY unbelievable and ridiculous, it was still a page-turner...make sense? Now, I've read Mr. Johnson's work before, I loved 'Million Dollar Divorce' and am really looking forward to 'Million Dollar Deception', but this book was just painful.

There was not one single likable character, and the situations these three people continued to put themselves in were just absurd...who would continue to let themselves be treated this way? Wayne was a sorry excuse for a man, unable to keep his junk in his pants even if his life depended on it...Pete had absolutely NO backbone, I finally threw in the towel on him when he didn't do anything about Carla telling him she was going to date Wayne while still staying married to him, just so she can see which man she wants to be with, I mean...REALLY???? And Carla...I had NO sympathy for her. She's a manipulative user who has to have everything revolve around her all the time.

Overall, I say skip this one. The story is just preposterous, and it's so hard to get past all the nonsense the three continue to dish out. I can't tell you how many times I rolled my eyes and thought 'Are you kidding me??' But...if you MUST read it, at least know that you won't be bored. Mr. Johnson keeps the flow of the story going at a nice even pace, and even though the characters are obnoxious, you still want to see how it ends.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

it started out pretty slow. spent too much time on the whole getting back at Pete for cheating on her with another woman. At first I thought Pete was real weak but it became clear that he is just crazy and it stems from competing with Wayne since he was little. Although he thought of him like a brother he felt inadequate when compared to him. He felt Wayne had everything he wish he had. All parties was wrong in this story. There was alot of throwing the blame around but it really started with Wayne and Carla. Pete was dating Carla first. They would double date with Wayne b/c Pete felt he could not communicate with her on the initial dates. They ended up breaking up and then Carla started dating Wayne. Wayne was wrong for dating someone his supposed brother had dated before. When Wayne cheated on Carla while they were engaged Pete saw it as an opportunity to win Carla back by telling her about Wayne's betrayal. Pete was wrong for that b/c it wasn't for Carla's benefit but for his. Jump forward 2 years later and Pete and Carla are married. She has for the past 2 months been secretly meeting with Wayne and neglecting Pete which causes him to cheat with another woman. He confesses to Carla and then all hell breaks loose. I like that fact that at the end Pete manned up and realized he did not want to be with Carla anymore.

[Shaquay Coaxum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear, Reader

I am currently reading a book entitled Do you Take this Woman?, by RM Johnson Which is a work of realistic fiction. This book reminds me of the real world because its about a relationship problems and how people have love triangles. The characters in the book Carla Barnes and Pete Barnes are happily marry but the wife is kind of cheating because he's in love with Pete's fake brother Wayne. I think this crazy because in life person have these problems like someone in love with one person and the other person is likes someone and another person is just stuck between the two. As I learned from this book is that love is so confusing because its kind of hard knowing if you marry and you love someone.

The reason why I pick this book because it looked interesting by the picture on the cover, but as I got more into I see it's really about how relationship and how you let your relationship be treated! The questions I got for the wife Carla why would you go back to your ex if he cheated on you? That confused me because she started to feel in love and she's marry to Pete. This is why there shouldn't be three people in your relationship just you and the person you want to be with. As for now, I'm ready to finish out what happens next.

Sincerely, Shaquay

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story we have Pete and Wayne who have been friends since childhood, they grew up together and call each other brothers. They end up both falling in love with the same woman, Carla. Pete saw her first, but Wayne is the one who ended up engaged to her.

However, Wayne cheats on Carla with another woman, and Pete runs to tell Carla. She then falls in love with Pete and they end up married. But that doesn't mean that Carla and Wayne are finished with each other.

This book started off very slow and I did not like any of the characters. Seriously, I thought they were all idiots and didn't understand why they would continue to participate in this little love triangle. Pete was the biggest idiot of all, since it was apparent to me that Carla never loved him, and she was better off with Wayne.

The book did pick up a bit towards the end, although it was a tad predictable. A quick read, but will leave you more frustrated than entertained.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my second time listening to this book. I don't remember how I felt when I heard it the first time around but... I feel like it was a good book but so the characters were so messy. Was Carla the only woman left or did she have magical powers?? I just couldn't imagine being in that kind of situation with my sister or someone that was close enough to be a sister. And definitely couldn't imagine the relationship between us remaining the same or even pretending all is well. So much betrayal, sharing, confused emotions. The book was written well I just couldn't get all the way down with the storyline.

[Amira Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! I was anticipating a heart wrenching ending but that was definitely not what I had in mind. Three friends love, lie and cheat. No one thinking ahead or wondering what consequence their choices will have. This scenario was something that could have happened to someone I know and that's what pulled me in. RM Johnson does it for me every time. He always writes stories that pull at my heart strings, that make normal people choose outlandish options, and titters on the brink of human insanity. Love it!!!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! My mouth literally fell open a number of times with the shocking twists and boldness of the characters. I did not expect the ending to be what it was, but I must say it was fitting for the characters left standing. I read the Million Dollar Trilogy a while back, and it was great. I didn't expect any less with this book about such a seemingly impenetrable bond as brotherhood. I guess it just takes the right woman..or I guess the wrong one in this case.

[Cheryl Durham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you like drama? It’s here. Do you desire a quick read? It’s here. Do you like reading RM Johnson’s work? It’s here. If you knew a friend was cheating....would you tell? If your brother was practiced infidelity to his fiancée...is it for you to tell? Would that revelation cause you to fall into the arms of the one who did the revealing? What are the motives for each? Follow Carla, Pete and Wayne as they navigate such revelations.

[Bridget · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a juicy trashy well told tale of lies and deception and what happens when people need to communicate and know what they want before and after they get married. I enjoyed it as an escape, but the deception in the characters was so wrong that at times I was just like...really?...but it is fiction.

[Kellee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the reviews and some say the book was good while others said it was bad and slow. I thought the book was actually pretty good. One part became kind of unbelievable, but it still fit in with the plot. I'll probably read this book more than once.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it up until it just became too crazy! It was all believable it just wasn’t how I would tolerate the situation to happen in my life. I say it’s a good read because it keeps you turning the pages until the end & Carla is a jerk face!

[Tysie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I hwve read in a long time. It was a serious page turner I truly couldnt put the book down. Of you like suspense, sex, and passion this is a great book to find all three...

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book had so many dynamics that it was just ridiculously good. I had a hard time putting it down at times. I am very shocked at the simple story line and the drama that went into this. Well done. A great yet short read full of ambiguity and drama.

[Aidywi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh my, I didn't care for this one at all.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book, alot of drama.

[Christine]

Amazing!

[Kamesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome and leaves you wanting more.

[Karentha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone in this book was selfish and paid the price for it in the end! Pretty good read.

[Ezraela-Baht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh i loved this book, it was sad that bestfriends ended up fighting for the same woman, if I'm not mistaken one got hurt really bad.

[Chineka Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book keeps you guessing with every page. You are never sure who will end up with you and you want to keep reading more up until the last page.

[Kesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story of how dangerous competition can be.