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Gideon #2
Waking with Enemies
A sequel to Sleeping with Strangers finds powerful hit man Gideon struggling to outmaneuver a fellow assassin when his past misdeeds catch up with him, an effort that forces him to realize that he can no longer trust anyone. 250,000 first printing.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2007
117 people are currently reading
2599 people want to read
About the author
Eric Jerome Dickey
55 books3,550 followersEric Jerome Dickey was born in Memphis, Tennessee and attended the University of Memphis (the former Memphis State), where he earned his degree in Computer System Technology. In 1983, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in engineering.
After landing a job in the aerospace industry as a software developer, Eric Jerome Dickey's artistic talents surfaced, inspiring him to become an actor and a stand-up comedian. Yet Eric quickly found out that writing was something he could do and do well. From creative writing classes to avidly consuming the works of his favorite authors, Eric Jerome Dickey began to shape a writing career of his own. Having written several scripts for his personal comedy act, he started writing poetry and short stories. "The film work gave me insight into character development, the acting classes helped me understand motivation...All of it goes hand in hand," Eric explains. He joined the IBWA (International Black Writers and Artists), participated in their development workshops, and became a recipient of the IBWA SEED Scholarship to attend UCLA's Creative Writing classes. In 1994 his first published short story, "Thirteen," appeared in the IBWA's River Crossing: Voices of the Diaspora-An Anthology of the International Black Experience. A second short story, "Days Gone By," was published in the magazine A Place to Enter.
With those successes behind him, Eric Jerome Dickey decided to fine-tune some of his earlier work and developed a screenplay called "Cappuccino." "Cappuccino" was directed and produced by Craig Ross, Jr. and appeared in coffee houses around the Los Angeles area. In February 1998, "Cappuccino" made its local debut during the Pan African Film Festival at the Magic Johnson Theater in Los Angeles.
Short stories, though, didn't seem to fulfill Eric Jerome Dickey's creative yearnings. Eric says, "I'd set out to do a ten-page story and it would go on for three hundred pages." So Eric kept writing and reading and sending out query letters for his novels for almost three years until he finally got an agent. "Then a door opened," Eric says. "And I put my foot in before they could close it." And that door has remained opened, as Eric Jerome Dickey's novels have placed him on the map as one of the best writers of contemporary urban fiction.
Eric Jerome Dickey's book signing tours for Sister, Sister; Friends and Lovers; Milk in My Coffee; Cheaters; and Liar's Game took him from coast to coast and helped propel each of these novels to #1 on the "Blackboard Bestsellers List." Cheaters was named "Blackboard Book of the Year" in 2000. In June 2000, Eric Jerome Dickey celebrated the French publication of Milk in My Coffee (Cafe Noisette) by embarking on a book tour to Paris. Soon after, Milk in My Coffee became a bestseller in France. Eric Jerome Dickey's novels, Chasing Destiny, Liar's Game, Between Lovers, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, Drive Me Crazy, Genevieve, Naughty or Nice, Sleeping with Strangers, Waking with Enemies, and Pleasure have all earned him the success of a spot on The New York Times bestseller list. Liar's Game, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, and Genevieve have also given Dickey the added distinction of being nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005. In 2006, he was honored with the awards for Best Contemporary Fiction and Author of the Year (Male) at the 2006 African American Literary Award Show. In 2008, Eric was nominated for Storyteller of the Year at the 1st annual ESSENCE Literary Awards. In January 2001, Eric Jerome Dickey was a contributor to New American Library's anthology Got To Be Real: Four Original Love Stories, also a Blackboard Bestseller. He also had a story entitled “Fish Sanwich” appear in the anthology Mothers and Sons. In June 2002, Dickey contributed to Black Silk: A Collection of African American Erotica (Warner Books) as well as to Riots Beneath the Baobab (published by Inte
After landing a job in the aerospace industry as a software developer, Eric Jerome Dickey's artistic talents surfaced, inspiring him to become an actor and a stand-up comedian. Yet Eric quickly found out that writing was something he could do and do well. From creative writing classes to avidly consuming the works of his favorite authors, Eric Jerome Dickey began to shape a writing career of his own. Having written several scripts for his personal comedy act, he started writing poetry and short stories. "The film work gave me insight into character development, the acting classes helped me understand motivation...All of it goes hand in hand," Eric explains. He joined the IBWA (International Black Writers and Artists), participated in their development workshops, and became a recipient of the IBWA SEED Scholarship to attend UCLA's Creative Writing classes. In 1994 his first published short story, "Thirteen," appeared in the IBWA's River Crossing: Voices of the Diaspora-An Anthology of the International Black Experience. A second short story, "Days Gone By," was published in the magazine A Place to Enter.
With those successes behind him, Eric Jerome Dickey decided to fine-tune some of his earlier work and developed a screenplay called "Cappuccino." "Cappuccino" was directed and produced by Craig Ross, Jr. and appeared in coffee houses around the Los Angeles area. In February 1998, "Cappuccino" made its local debut during the Pan African Film Festival at the Magic Johnson Theater in Los Angeles.
Short stories, though, didn't seem to fulfill Eric Jerome Dickey's creative yearnings. Eric says, "I'd set out to do a ten-page story and it would go on for three hundred pages." So Eric kept writing and reading and sending out query letters for his novels for almost three years until he finally got an agent. "Then a door opened," Eric says. "And I put my foot in before they could close it." And that door has remained opened, as Eric Jerome Dickey's novels have placed him on the map as one of the best writers of contemporary urban fiction.
Eric Jerome Dickey's book signing tours for Sister, Sister; Friends and Lovers; Milk in My Coffee; Cheaters; and Liar's Game took him from coast to coast and helped propel each of these novels to #1 on the "Blackboard Bestsellers List." Cheaters was named "Blackboard Book of the Year" in 2000. In June 2000, Eric Jerome Dickey celebrated the French publication of Milk in My Coffee (Cafe Noisette) by embarking on a book tour to Paris. Soon after, Milk in My Coffee became a bestseller in France. Eric Jerome Dickey's novels, Chasing Destiny, Liar's Game, Between Lovers, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, Drive Me Crazy, Genevieve, Naughty or Nice, Sleeping with Strangers, Waking with Enemies, and Pleasure have all earned him the success of a spot on The New York Times bestseller list. Liar's Game, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, and Genevieve have also given Dickey the added distinction of being nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005. In 2006, he was honored with the awards for Best Contemporary Fiction and Author of the Year (Male) at the 2006 African American Literary Award Show. In 2008, Eric was nominated for Storyteller of the Year at the 1st annual ESSENCE Literary Awards. In January 2001, Eric Jerome Dickey was a contributor to New American Library's anthology Got To Be Real: Four Original Love Stories, also a Blackboard Bestseller. He also had a story entitled “Fish Sanwich” appear in the anthology Mothers and Sons. In June 2002, Dickey contributed to Black Silk: A Collection of African American Erotica (Warner Books) as well as to Riots Beneath the Baobab (published by Inte
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
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November 3, 2015I've read book one and I'm starting this book. I read several reviews two from people of a different race; to you I say stick to your fifty shades of gray (hated it ). We all have opinions, and are entitled to express them.
Writing is ones ability to fantasize, to use your imagination and take readers along with you. If you choose not to ride along: GET OFF THE BOAT. We dedicated fans of Eric Jerome Dickey will continue to ride the boat.
Writing is ones ability to fantasize, to use your imagination and take readers along with you. If you choose not to ride along: GET OFF THE BOAT. We dedicated fans of Eric Jerome Dickey will continue to ride the boat.
June 20, 2016
Getting better.
August 5, 2008
Eric Jerome Dickey is a phenomenally successful author, especially popular I gather with African American readers. He has 12 other books to his credit. I decided to see what all the fuss was about.
The answer: SEX and lots of it.
If the difference between erotica and porn lies in the literary quality of the work, this book is straight porn.
I won't bother to describe the plot -- it's laughable -- or the characters -- they're non-existent. But the worst aspect of this terrible affront to literature is the writing which is plain awful. Here's a sample, picked more or less at random:
"I felt as cold as a Siberian wasteland. the same way I had felt that night.
The same way I had felt in North Carolina when I killed Midnight.
The same way I had felt in Montreal when I killed that man for my mother.
The same way I had felt many nights..."
Try that for 383 pages. The first 80 or so are mainly taken up with a three-way sex scene. Many shuddering orgasms take place. Many times we hear the words, "Oh baby." One of the two women says she aint no "Joanne" -- which means she's not a lesbian and it's OK to make love to another woman as long as one penis-bearing indivdual is in the room watching.
I've already wasted far too many words on this alleged book. If you like porn, be my guest. Otherwise, save your time and money.
The answer: SEX and lots of it.
If the difference between erotica and porn lies in the literary quality of the work, this book is straight porn.
I won't bother to describe the plot -- it's laughable -- or the characters -- they're non-existent. But the worst aspect of this terrible affront to literature is the writing which is plain awful. Here's a sample, picked more or less at random:
"I felt as cold as a Siberian wasteland. the same way I had felt that night.
The same way I had felt in North Carolina when I killed Midnight.
The same way I had felt in Montreal when I killed that man for my mother.
The same way I had felt many nights..."
Try that for 383 pages. The first 80 or so are mainly taken up with a three-way sex scene. Many shuddering orgasms take place. Many times we hear the words, "Oh baby." One of the two women says she aint no "Joanne" -- which means she's not a lesbian and it's OK to make love to another woman as long as one penis-bearing indivdual is in the room watching.
I've already wasted far too many words on this alleged book. If you like porn, be my guest. Otherwise, save your time and money.
December 2, 2017
Not to sound like a prude by the sexual relations in book 2 that took up half the novel. After the 1st 3-some, we got it. They're connected. I wanted to know more about Thelma and Arizona's background. Unless their backgrounds are in another book, I haven't read it yet. But I really wanted to know what made Thelma Thelma for her to make Jean-Claude Gideon. Her lifestyle is what lead him to his lifestyle and I understand how he chose to cope by growing up to being a professional hitman but to have a child raised in that type of environment is scary. I wanted to know what type of hold Scamz really had/have on Arizona for her not to kill him as soon as she found out he was sleeping with her sister. Clearly he left quite an impression on these sisters where their hatred for each other grew AFTER his death instead of just moving on. I did enjoy that every journey came full circle and the connected dots were clever especially with the preacher's wife. I see people have mixed feelings about Sam, but he deserved what he got.
September 21, 2009
WAKING WITH ENEMIES by Eric Jerome Dickey is the exciting sequel to SLEEPING WITH STRANGERS. Gideon is back...and the man with the broken nose is still hot on Gideon's trail in London. Gideon needs to find him before the man with the broken nose finds him first. It is a game of cat and mouse. The question remains who put a hit out on Gideon, could it be the man he left alive in Tampa, his mother, Arizona, or someone else?
Gideon also has a steamy sexual tryst with two lovely but yet different women. Both of these women come to him in need of a safe place to be but Gideon begins to wonder if they are friends...or enemies.
WAKING WITH ENEMIES by Eric Jerome Dickey was an excellent book! Mr. Dickey's erotic talents shine in this novel. WAKING WITH ENEMIES is a book of mystery, murder and erotica. I look forward to reading the next book in this saga...DYING FOR REVENGE.
Reviewed by Leona
UrbanFireBooks
www.urbanfirebooksonline.com
Amazon Rating: 5 stars
Gideon also has a steamy sexual tryst with two lovely but yet different women. Both of these women come to him in need of a safe place to be but Gideon begins to wonder if they are friends...or enemies.
WAKING WITH ENEMIES by Eric Jerome Dickey was an excellent book! Mr. Dickey's erotic talents shine in this novel. WAKING WITH ENEMIES is a book of mystery, murder and erotica. I look forward to reading the next book in this saga...DYING FOR REVENGE.
Reviewed by Leona
UrbanFireBooks
www.urbanfirebooksonline.com
Amazon Rating: 5 stars
August 14, 2021
Loved this book. This one was even better than the first one. Loved the characters, the action, the humor, the suspense, the redemption, the twists, the steamy sex was off the chain 🔥🔥🔥. Everything about this book was entertaining. The book even moved me to tears a couple times. I was not ready. I’ve had this series on my TBR for years now. So glad I finally decided to read it. But it would have still been unread but for a friend who told me to read it. Now I’m telling you.
June 18, 2017
I liked this one, but the first one was better in my opinion. But it was the ending that really did it for me. Very, very good. There were some things that happened that I was not expecting, but I guess when you're dealing with assassins all's fair.
October 4, 2024
3.75 ⭐️
January 27, 2023
OMG! A page turner! Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, it did. If you liked the first book in the Gideon series, I am positive that you will absolutely love this one. Eric Jerome Dickey takes you on a never-ending thrill ride, with so many twists and turns and shocking moments that I couldn't even keep up with all the action. This book was so entertaining, as if I were watching a movie, and of course, as only he can do, EJD gives so many hot and steamy scenes that made me love Gideon even more. Thank you EJD for this mind-blowing thrill ride that I could get on over and over again! I really think that he should try to make this series into a movie, that's how great it is! Love you EJD!
July 20, 2018
I was actually surprised by this book. The 1st one in the series didn't get good till the very end. And after the end I knew I had no choice but to read the 2nd. It really keeps you on your toes with a good plot twist at the end. I know the 1st one starts off slow but give it a chance and you will find it is a good thriller. The only con I have is the very very odd relationship with his Mother. Sometimes it is a bit too much.
April 24, 2010
If you like sexy hitmen and women, and sex, and did I mention violence...Then this book is a must read! It is so steamy, my hair went curly, or was that my toes. Now don't get me wrong, prostitution can be deadly.
August 15, 2013
Such a great intense, drama...I love the characters & listening on audio is a Bonus (the narrators voice is so hypotizing)! I can't wait to see what Gideon has in store next!
December 19, 2010
Definitely could have lost 100 pages of erotica and improved it.
Seriously, what the fuck was that all about? I'm no puritan, I understand that people have sex, and wild fantastic sex at that. It served just about no purpose with the plot, though. Maybe if Mrs. Jones had turned out to be someone in the contract killing business or something I could see, but nothing. I kept reading despite the first 100 pages being no different than a cheap sex-shop paperback, and it got, thankfully, better.
The whole contract killer double-crossing violent plot was good, well written, overall enjoyable. Nothing mind-blowing, but a good plot-driven novel. If Dickey had made this book 100 sex scene pages shorter, it would have been 4 stars.
Seriously, what the fuck was that all about? I'm no puritan, I understand that people have sex, and wild fantastic sex at that. It served just about no purpose with the plot, though. Maybe if Mrs. Jones had turned out to be someone in the contract killing business or something I could see, but nothing. I kept reading despite the first 100 pages being no different than a cheap sex-shop paperback, and it got, thankfully, better.
The whole contract killer double-crossing violent plot was good, well written, overall enjoyable. Nothing mind-blowing, but a good plot-driven novel. If Dickey had made this book 100 sex scene pages shorter, it would have been 4 stars.
October 27, 2018
Great read! I love how it picked up right where 'Sleeping with Strangers' left off. Gideon is a bad mutha shut yo mouf! My heart dropped when I thought Arizona, Lola, and Mrs. Jones were no more. Thank God cold blooded revenge and her love for Gideon saved Arizona. She could not and would let Bruno kill her in the Thames because she was determined to save Gideon! And Sam...his back stabbing ass had to die but thank God he called psycho Bruno before he could get to Lola and Mrs. Jones! I love how they love each other. I love how the bring Gideon peace and make him 'square'.
April 5, 2019
I’m not sure why this series isn’t a movie!! I’ve only read the first two in the series and they’d make an awesome movie! Mrs. Jones and Lola are two lucky women.....in more ways than one. This book has so many twists and turns, it unbelievable. Had my head spinning for a moment. Getting ready to read the third book in the series now: “Dying for Revenge”.
Side note: If you’re not into long drawn out (but oh so good) sex scenes then you might want to skip the first section of the book. Once you get past that, the story and events are are serious page turners and hard to put down!
Side note: If you’re not into long drawn out (but oh so good) sex scenes then you might want to skip the first section of the book. Once you get past that, the story and events are are serious page turners and hard to put down!
July 10, 2011
Ugh! Wade picked it and had listened to half of it so I only came in on the last 1/2. Awful awful awful. I totally agree with some of the other reviewers who gave it 1 star. Terrible writing and pointless sex that goes on and on. Reading the reviews is so funny because some people gave it 5 stars.
February 29, 2008
Strange book. Alternates between graphic porn and graphic violence. Still, you know the author has done a great job when you want the main charaacter, an evil to the bone hit-man, to get the non-convnetional happy ending in the orffering. Not saying if he does or not, though.
January 23, 2020
Took me way too long to finish this book. I just could not get into it. I took a break from reading it...read other books...This book was just okay.
March 22, 2016
I love it! So, if you saw my review for book 1; I didn't know it was a series. I finished book 1 got up, grabbed my purse, and drove down the street and picked up book 2 and read it in about 2 to 3 days. It was suspenseful and the whole read my hand was over my mouth in shock.
I absolutely loved it! In Waking with Enemies we see Gideon in the mist of a big ordeal. I didn't see the ending coming at all and when the book ended I wanted more not knowing there was a book 3 and 4 coming out soon! The series keeps your attention and just makes you think in regards to who did it? , are they dead, or are they alive? Is he going to catch him? It was all very suspenseful!
I got the audiobook a year later and Dion Graham takes you deeper into the story and just brings EJDs words to life.
I absolutely loved it! In Waking with Enemies we see Gideon in the mist of a big ordeal. I didn't see the ending coming at all and when the book ended I wanted more not knowing there was a book 3 and 4 coming out soon! The series keeps your attention and just makes you think in regards to who did it? , are they dead, or are they alive? Is he going to catch him? It was all very suspenseful!
I got the audiobook a year later and Dion Graham takes you deeper into the story and just brings EJDs words to life.
March 6, 2025
Gideon is a Hitman and he’s the master of the game. Now he’s got a one million job. He can’t trust anyone because they might be his enemy until he meets two woman on his mission… A heated encounter in a London hotel room leaves international hit man Gideon waking up to a world where no one can be trusted. Because this time, someone’s taken out a hit on him—and finding out who did it has him rethinking a dangerous past. I love this book series so much, The passion, the anguish, the thrill and action! This series will make want to know more and you get so deep into this series! I highly recommend!
July 4, 2014
Keeping in mind that you are reading about a day in the life of a man raised by a prostitute that becomes a hitman, the book had the right amount of sex and violence. In any other book, it would have been overkill. If you are sensitive to kink and erotica in a book. Just don't read this book.
This book picks up where the first installment left off and just keeps going and going. I was torn between yelling at the characters and fanning myself. This was such a roller coaster ride that I couldn't tell what was going to happen or how it would end. Great read!!!
This book picks up where the first installment left off and just keeps going and going. I was torn between yelling at the characters and fanning myself. This was such a roller coaster ride that I couldn't tell what was going to happen or how it would end. Great read!!!
June 9, 2013
Love love love this book! I was super happy for the ending because I honestly connected with every single character. Except the enemy, The Man With The Broken Nose, I felt happy in a odd way because he and Gideon were in the same business but I guess because of Gideon's background I sympathized for him more. Idk, but it was twisted. I love Gideon's character so much I can't wait to read Dying For Revenge and to be honest this book honestly made me want to start writing again. Hmmm???
October 1, 2013
This is a really good series. I love the complexity of Gideon. Not only is driven(even if it is in the wrong direction) but he is also sensitive and caring. There were so many times that i had to put the book down because it was too intense and i needed to take a breather. This intensity scaled the walls of erotic and it thriller/mystery like qualites. An assasain with a heart. Good READ. Can't wait to start the next book.
February 4, 2021
Must Reac
Eric Jerome brings you to London in the best way imaginable! He’s so descriptive that you actually feel like you’re there. This story leads you on a trip with Gideon, a contract killer and two beautiful women he met on a plane. It’s picks up where “Sleeping With Strangers” left off and doesn’t disappoint. It’s thrilling and keeps u enthralled as well as super sexy. One of the best reads from one of the best authors! I HIGHLY recommend!
Eric Jerome brings you to London in the best way imaginable! He’s so descriptive that you actually feel like you’re there. This story leads you on a trip with Gideon, a contract killer and two beautiful women he met on a plane. It’s picks up where “Sleeping With Strangers” left off and doesn’t disappoint. It’s thrilling and keeps u enthralled as well as super sexy. One of the best reads from one of the best authors! I HIGHLY recommend!
June 23, 2018
Waking With Enemies Review By Dina
This book was intense, suspenseful, heart breaking, psychologically scary. The fear of not knowing about Lola and Mrs. Jones, the joy of knowing Arizona was alive. I’d love to see Lola and Mrs. Jones be trained by Gideon and become his emergency backup like Scamz Jr. was to Arizona. That would be the ultimate.
This book was intense, suspenseful, heart breaking, psychologically scary. The fear of not knowing about Lola and Mrs. Jones, the joy of knowing Arizona was alive. I’d love to see Lola and Mrs. Jones be trained by Gideon and become his emergency backup like Scamz Jr. was to Arizona. That would be the ultimate.
January 4, 2020
Call me crazy but Gideon was my MAN!! I have to re read thieves paradise but for some reason I think he the same person as the main character in thieves paradise. I was so excited when EJD kept this series going. Yesss keep it coming! Some parts I definitely felt like I was there personally and I had to put the book down for a month. I couldn’t deal!
February 15, 2025
This book was overwhelming. If have to laugh to keep from crying was a person, it would look like this book. Jean Claude aka Gideon was a broken man. His trauma started early and only grew worse. When I got to the end, I was depleted!
Dickey left no stone unturned. I miss his gift in the earth. Though daunting, it was good to delve back into the writing of Eric Jerome Dickey. Peace!
Dickey left no stone unturned. I miss his gift in the earth. Though daunting, it was good to delve back into the writing of Eric Jerome Dickey. Peace!
March 22, 2008
Picks up where "sleeping with srangers" leaves off. First hundred pages are pretty erotic...but it still mixes in the mystery/killing and the sex. Had to keep reading until the end to figure it all out. Pretty cool how he brought in characters from "Chasing Destiny", too. I love his books!
November 17, 2008
This was a nice sequel to the first book. It let you know what was going on with Gideon a little bit more. At the end of the book, it made me wonder if he would really change his way and start fresh though. Overall I liked it a lot!!!!
June 25, 2015
Great read
Characters were well developed. I found the the plot held my attention. It was hard to put the book down. Just a little too much sex that had me skipping some sections. Overall, I enjoyed the book
Characters were well developed. I found the the plot held my attention. It was hard to put the book down. Just a little too much sex that had me skipping some sections. Overall, I enjoyed the book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews