From Dusk to Dawn

by Niambi Davis

Successful body products CEO, Ayo Montgomery, has her life on track. Her son is away at Annapolis, her business is flourishing and she is comfortable in her own skin, despite the untimely death of her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1600430368
• ISBN13: 9781600430367
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Parker Publishing, LLC
• Length: 225 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Is Age Only A Number?

The opening chapter of From Dusk To Dawn by first-time novelist Niambi Brown Davis reads like your average romance novel, but this reviewer found that the similarity between this novel and most romance novels ends right there. Much to my surprise and delight, I found the storyline to have far more substance than boy meets girl. When the beautiful, widowed Ayo Montgomery meets Bilal Abdul-Salaam, more than their religious beliefs clash. Ayo is an independent, Christian woman in her forties who has survived the trauma of losing the love of her life after only two years of marriage. Her son, Kedar, is a college student progressing well in his studies. They have a mother/son bond that is highly gratifying. Ayo is the owner of a bath and body products business. She is surrounded many friends and family. They give her much support and love in the business as well as in her life. The last thing Ayo expects is to get involved in a relationship with a younger man. Ayo has not had a serious relationship since Maurice her young husband, died twenty-two years ago. Maurice was a hard act to follow and Ayo has not considered remarriage. At the time of his death, they lived in his homeland of Trinidad. He was an international photographer killed while covering a civil uprising on a neighboring island. Ayo returns to the D.C. area to raise her son and try to find her way back to reality. Playing the mating game is not in her scheme of plans. Bilal is ten years Ayo's junior and an extremely attractive African American, Muslim. Ayo has hired him to appraise the extensive collection of pottery and glass items she inherited from her late mother. Even before Ayo meets Bilal, she has several pre-conceived notions about Muslim men. These notions put her in a mood of total mistrust when he comes to her home to appraise the collection. But she never expected the fine specimen of Black manhood that stood at her door. Taken by surprise, she is instantly attracted to the handsome Mr. Abdul-Salaam and he is equally attracted to her. His parents were members of the Nation of Islam under Elijah Muhammad and were activists during the Black Power era. They later became Sunni Muslims and Bilal was born into the Islamic faith. Both Bilal and Ayo came from families who taught them the importance of pride in their heritage and and a result, one thing that they shared was a common interest in thie culture and their heritage. Although Bilal is educated, cultured, financially stable and a strong force to be reckoned with, Bilal and Ayo are like oil and water when they first meet. Yet neither can deny the strong attraction they have for one another. Bilal has been anxiously seeking his soul mate and the woman who will bear the children he so seriously desires. He finds those qualities in Ayo. At her age and with her medical history, is that at all possible? Will his family accept this woman who is not Muslim? Will her adult son accept this younger man as

Older Woman, Younger Man and Things In Between

In From Dusk to Dawn, author, Niambi Davis, takes us on a tumultuous love journey between main characters, Ayo Montgomery and Bilal Abdul-Salaam. Ayo, budding entrepreneur and single mother to a college-age son, Kedar, believes she is too old and set in her ways to be in a relationship at this point in her life; therefore, she definitely is not looking for love. With her primary focus on her skincare product business and seeing to her son's needs, Ayo is all but blindsided when Bilal enters her world. Bilal, an eccentric gentleman, becomes smitten with Ayo the first day he walks into her home. From their initial encounter, Ayo and Bilal fight the feelings they have for each other. Later, they let their guards down and the two seemingly become one. Throughout their relationship, Ayo and Bilal face familial challenges and health complications that threaten their bond. What I like about this atypical romance story is the fact that everything isn't peaches and cream between Ayo and Bilal. I particularly enjoyed Bilal's persistence and reliance on his faith in winning Ayo over, and although Ayo is strong-willed, her vulnerability made her character more true to life. Bilal was able to love Ayo the way she needed to be loved. What I most liked about From Dusk to Dawn, is the fact that the main characters did not succumb to societal views regarding the age difference in their relationship. I would definitely read another book by Ms. Davis. Reviewed by Tavares S. Carney for The Culture Clique Book Club

Edwina's review of From Dusk to Dawn

Niambi Brown Davis has masterfully crafted her storylines and characters into an awesome debut novel that is a "must read". Ayo and Bilal get off to an antagonistic start, but neither is able to shake the other from their thoughts. Thanks to a chance encounter, they reconnect and sparks fly. Love blossoms, but just as seasons change and the petals fall from the blossoms, so does the course of love for Ayo and Bilal find that true love is not without fallout. The first time Ayo meets Bilal's family is reminiscent of Stella meeting Winston's family in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back", but it carries over much longer in From Dusk to Dawn", impacting Ayo and Bilal's relationship in a much more profound way. I loved the way Ms. Brown gave us all of the problems that would be encountered in a Muslim-Christian, older woman/younger man, never-married vs single parent type of relationship. She didn't circumvent any of those obstacles in addition to developing the normal problems in a relationship. The dialogue was entirely realistic and the climax and resolution (I'm talking plot everybody) was poignant. So, Ms. Davis, when is your next book?"

An author to watch

Imagine thinking you have your life under control, and then as you prepare for an expected appointment, you open your door and standing in front of you is a fine specimen of a man. This is what happens to Ayo Montgomery, owner of her own body products company, upon responding to her door bell and finding appraiser, Bilal Abdul-Salaam standing there. Despite a disastrous first meeting, Bilal realizes Ayo is the woman he has been looking for and across town Ayo does not want to recognize what she is feeling towards Bilal. While the sparks and feelings surface, there are doubts on how this relationship will work - Ayo is Christian and Bilal is Muslim. Ayo is a widow ten years older than Bilal and has a college age son while Bilal who loves children wants to settle down and have a family of his own. This is a wonderful story that explores the development of Ayo and Bilal's relationship as they discover their love and passion for each other and work through the challenges that are thrown their way. Some challenges were expected but there are several unexpected challenges that will keep you reading until the last page. One of the strengths of this novel is how the challenges are introduced and handled giving the novel a realistic feel. Along with a strong storyline, the writing is beautiful and the attention to detail, whether describing the exquisite furniture, the meals they are sharing, the music they are listening to, or just the settings within the story will keep you engrossed and turning the pages. In Ms. Davis' hands, the special lemonade Ayo prepares for Bilal becomes a sensual and private act between them and over the course of the story a symbol of their love and respect for each other. Romance, a bit of unexpected suspense, African American and Caribbean history threaded throughout the story, family conflicts, and interesting secondary characters makes this a story that will appeal to a wide audience of readers. I enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to future works by Ms. Davis.

From Dust To Happily Ever After

Niambi Brown Davis introduces readers to the life of Ayo Montgomery in From Dusk to Dawn. Ayo is mother of a college-aged son and she is a very successful entrepreneur of unique bath and body products. Having lost her husband twenty years earlier in an accident, she believes her life is complete and fulfilling. On the recommendation of a friend, Ayo solicits the help of Bilal Abdul Salaam, an appraiser, to give her an estimate on her antique furniture. Bilal, with the complexion of dark maple syrup and the body of a gladiator, proved to be more than she was expecting. As sparks began to ignite between the two, they immediately took offense with each other. Days later, they realized they could not stop the attraction that had begun to pull them together. Davis weaves a very interesting story of romance. As the characters become acquainted, they must face the stereotype of older woman/younger man syndrome and religious differences along with issues from family, friends and children. Davis does a wonderful job with her descriptive narrative, which puts the reader in the center of the story. She also gives wonderful explanation of the various religious practices of the Muslim faith that are unfamiliar to most people. I only wished she gave a little bit more romance between the characters. This book will definitely be recommended to everyone that enjoys a happy and loving ending. Reviewed by: Priscilla C. Johnson APOOO BookClub