Lovers & Liars

In Denine's (Whatever Gets You Through the Night) soulfully sweet second effort, Journey Mason, a celebrated R&B singer as beautiful and gifted as Beyoncé, has everything except what she really wants: to start a family. Journey began life as Serena Childs, but with the help of her best friend, Jada, and her husband/manager Christopher, she became a superstar. Christopher, however, proves a mean and abusive husband obsessed with her fame and fortune. Tired of his controlling and cheating ways, she escapes to Paris where she has an ultimately disappointing whirlwind courtship with a French artist. Back in New York, she's in an accident that leaves her in a coma and when she finally awakens, she's blind and learns that Christopher's used her fortune to launch another singer and broker a dangerous deal with a rap group. She must also grapple with her crack-addicted sister; her friend, Jada, who might not be totally trustworthy; and learning to believe in love again. The result is a satisfying R&B fairy tale.