Roots and Fruits (Book Review of Small Great Things)

Oh once again, we are EMBROILED in chaos.

I am so sick of it. Ugh. Thank goodness I can just turn off the TV and do something constructive and valuable.

But all of this has reminded me of a book I read.

Not all of, but the sight of white nationalists in their sane outfits - not dressed in their golf gear. So odd. Or is it?

And with that said... fellas, the Klan wore hoods for a reason. Maybe ya'll should have worn them, because ya'll got put on blast on social media. Some of ya'll lost your jobs SAD).

But like I said, it reminded me of a book I read this winter.

Jodi Picoult's Small Great Things.

I like Jodi Picoult. She is not my favorite author, but she's on the list somewhere, easily in the top 20. I have read a few of her books, maybe 5 or 6. But anything I've read by her is entertaining and full of great themes and lessons to be learned. And I write long fiction in the same way she writes it, where each chapter is an alternating point of view. In her books, there are usually two or three main characters and the story moves along well from each point of view. I love reading and writing in that style.

So with that said, the story she tells in this novel is intriguing... and timely for days like this.

It's too hard to summarize the story without revealing the plot. But in a nutshell, it's based on a true story. It's about an black OBGYN nurse who is prohibited from caring for a newborn infant because the white supremacist father requested that no african-american nurses tend to his baby. Well, some unfortunate events take place and the nurse finds herself on trial, and the whole efficacy of the request by the father comes into question. The story is told from three points of view: the baby's father, the nurse, and the nurse's lawyer.

First of all, from the picture above, you can see that the author is white. But I tell you one thing, she was so very accurate when writing the experience of the black nurse, namely, the experiences that black women face in this country. I saw so much of myself in this character, in what I go through and how I am treated. It was painful to read Ruth's story, but more painful to read the detailed nuances. I saw where Jodi Picoult said that she had over 100 hours of interviews with black women, and that's how she understood and captured the essence of the character.

But the character who shocked me most, and what's also related to what goes on now, namely, what we all witnessed this weekend:

The portrayal of the white supremacist father.

So when I saw this weekend's chaos, I thought about the book.

The author goes into extreme detail concerning the who, what, where and why of how the father developed his views.

It was shocking just reading the whole radicalization process.

Because let's face it... no one becomes that way overnight. NOPE.

Everything is about process. EVERYTHING.

I'd never read anything like that before. So when I saw all these men this weekend carrying their tiki torches and dressed all conservatively in the pressed khakis and golf shirts, I thought "Yeah, unh-hunh, I know what's up."

And I'm glad I read that book. Because, yes, I know what's up. I got a glimpse into the whole white nationalist mindset. And it was NOT pretty. But it was necessary.

That's the best book by her that I have read. She stated in her afterword that  she knew she was a white woman of privilege and she was writing it to white people so that they could understand what  racism is about (And her afterword was one of the most powerful I have ever read in a book. WOW).

And it has helped me understand the whole white supremacist mindset.  And it's a bunch of craziness.

This is my thing: you know the tree by the fruit that it bears. And the fruit produced in this case is beyond suspect. If the fruit is rotten and full of hate, well....

And when I saw this weekend's events unfold... I just shook my head.

And thought of this book.

And when I saw our beloved President's attitude towards it all?

I folded my arms and just shook my head.

And I thought of this book. 

Oh what manner of fruit hangs from this tree!

That's all I got to say about that.

Book Review: The Sociopath Next Door

I read the most fascinating book last month.

T

The Sociopath Next Door

I first heard about this book some 8 years ago at a talk given by J. California Cooper at the NBCC. And since then, I'd been meaning to read it.

But I never got around to it in all these years.

Not until my sister Kentucky said she was reading it.

And you know me. I was thinking, "Let me go see what this girl is reading..."

Yes. Me and my nosey self.

And I like reading with my sister, as it always sparks a good discussion.

Now, I have read a lot of articles on the subject matter. When I see someone caught up in a bunch of mess, and that mess didn't start until a certain person entered their lives, I think of the whole sociopath issue.

It always sparks a huge question in my mind. My biggest question, though, is, and has been all of my life:

What on earth causes a person to walk into a another person's life and set fire to their lives?

In other words, what causes a person to enter a person's life and attempt to destroy that person emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and even physically? And when they have torn that person down, they mover on to the next? And when this dramatic person's background is examined, there is a trail of this type of behavior. What is THAT about?

This book answers those questions quite definitively. After reading this book, I FULLY understand the answers.

Of course, most of us understand psychopathy... You know, like Hitler, and Charles Manson, and the religious leader craziness that happens every once in awhile, where the whole fringe group follows that leader right off a cliff of death (Jim Jones, etc.).  That's easy enough to see.

But what about sociopathy in everyday folks? In that coworker, that boss, the minister, that friend, that boyfriend or girlfriend?

Interestingly, the author groups sociopathy in with the psychopathy group. And it makes sense because some folks have a conscience.  And those "pathy" folk don't.

I like what the tagline on the front of the book says...

"1 in 25 Americans secretly has no conscience can do anything at all without feeling guilty..."

And that's the definition of a sociopath: someone who has no conscience, no moral compass whatsoever.  They have the ability to do anything at all to people, places and things with no guilt whatsoever.

And a lot of that starts in childhood.

Man... if you notice your child running around setting animals on fire, well.. you have a problem on your hands. That type of thing doesn't just go away. He or she is going to grow up and wreak absolute havoc in the lives of others.

You know how I feel about childhood. All that emotional mess starts in childhood. The book gets heavy into that. Is sociopathy a result of genetics or a result of culture and environment? There was at least a 2 chapter discussion on that. The answer is a bit surprising.

I like the author's definition of "Conscience":

"Conscience is a sense of obligation to, ultimately based in an emotional connection to another living creature (often but not always another human being), or to a group of human beings, or even to in some cases to humanity as a whole." (Chapter 1, p. 25).

And the book is an examination of  of conscience in that vein. Not only does it examine the whole phenomena of people with no conscience, but there are chapters that break down what true conscience is, and it's definition as a "seventh sense" of sorts.

Now, I wasn't expecting all that. But it offered a nice balance to the discussion. I now understand the difference.

There was a list of 13 rules from the book that I've seen all over the internet over the years concerning how to deal with sociopaths. Might as well list them here!

1.  The first rule involves the bitter pill of accepting that some people literally have no conscience.

2.  In a contest between your instincts and what is implied by the rule a person has taken on - education, doctor, leader, animal lover, humanist, parent- go with your instincts.

3. When considering a new relationship of any kind, practice the Rule of Threes regarding the claims and promises a person makes, and the responsibilities he or she has. Make the rule of threes your personal policy.

4. Question Authority.

5. Suspect flattery.

6. If necessary redefine your concept of respect.

7. Do not join the game.

8. The best way to protect yourself from a sociopath is to avoid him, to refuse any kind of contact or communication.

9. Question your tendency to pity too easily.

10. Do not try to redeem the unredeemable.

11. Never agree, out of pity or for any other reason, to help a sociopath conceal his or her true character.

12. Defend your psyche.

13. Living well is the best revenge.

Those are interesting rules, and each is discussed in great detail.

The most interesting rule is #3, the "Rule of Threes". This means one lie may be an misunderstanding. Two lies may be a serious mistake. Three lies means you dealing with a straight up liar.  And I like what the book says about deceit: "Deceit is the linchpin of conscienceless behavior." (page 157). When there is deceit or some other messy behaviour, it isn't sudden. There was always a pattern that went unrecognized. It is best to examine folk closely when that type of thing is going on.

I go overboard with that, I think. I watch how you treat other people. If you're wreaking havoc in everyone's lives, then I make a mental note of that, and I will usually leave you alone. I don't do well with emotional manipulation and pity issues. This book gets waaaaay deep into all of that.

It makes me a jerk. That is alright. I have just had the rug pulled completely out from beneathe my feet by a sociopath, and I have pretty strict rules for my personal space. I just don't care to have my peaceful life set afire. I've had things go on that, decades later, still affect me. And if I'd just recognized some patterns, I could've avoided a lot of chaos, trouble and danger.

I highlighted a couple of other quotes:

"One way or another, a life without conscience is a failed life." (page 209).

"There is the will to possess and dominate, and then there is the love." (page 192).

I have another quote, but I want to use that in a future "Food for thought" post.

Overall, this book helped me understand what was happening a few times in my life, when someone came into my life and set it on fire emotionally. I really needed this book in my late teens, and early 20s. I would've been prepared, and I could've avoided a couple of things that left me emotionally distraught. And it also allowed me to examine myself and some of my ways.

I am older now and a bit wiser. I am so fortunate that I had to a chance to read this book now.

Because it is never to late to learn.

Book Review: The Fantasy Fallacy: Exposing the Deeper Meaning Behind Sexual Thoughts

Last week, I finished reading the most amazing book:

O_O

Oh my. And it is a book that I would never pick up.

How did I come across this book?

While talking to my sister Kentucky. I told her about another book I talked about in a blog post and really liked, Walking into Walls: 5 Blind Spots that Block God's Work in You by Steven Auterburn. She purchased the book and REALLY read it. She explained to me one of the concepts of this book that I didn't really get and had meant to go back and read, about the difference between building walls around yourself and setting boundaries for yourself. (I may do a post on that. Some of you talked about setting boundaries for yourself in one of my recent posts).

So my sister started looking around for other books by the author. She came across the Fantasy Fallacy Book, a book where the author of the Walls book wrote the foreword, and liked the sample chapters she'd read.

I was a bit stunned by this. Why was my little sister reading a book on sexual fantasy??

"Let me go look and see what this little girl is reading," I said to myself when I got off the phone with her. "I'ma get her. She know she has no business reading anything like that."

I downloaded the sample chapters on my kindle. Then I downloaded the whole book.

Hear me now, believe me later... That book was AMAZING.  Oh. my. goodness.

Why was it so amazing?

Because it was a treatise on sexual fantasy from a nonjudgmental spiritual and Christian perspective.

Keyword here: nonjudgmental.

I myself was ready to chastise Kentucky for reading such rubbish.

Trust me, it was far from rubbish. And I am surprised that it was narrowed down to sexual fantasy. This material could be easily extrapolated to other problems, issues and addictions. Easily.

Baby, let me tell you though... I know waaaaaay more about sexual issues and fantasies than I care to know now. My goodness.

I myself don't have these issues. Like any other female though, who has been around several blocks, I do have movie reels of past sexual conquests locked away in a room in the dark corners of my mind, and yes I do go and knock the dust off of those and watch them. For in those movies, I am the star, giving an Oscar-winning performance, swinging from chandalier to kitchen counter to chandalier with the greatest of ease.

Not sure we can get away from that.  We will always have our memories. Our memories are something else, aren't they?

Vivid, bold, in amazing technicolor and super HD and 3D imax.

But this book jumps further than that... it goes into the secret places, those shameful places. Those sexual fantasies that we have and the "why" behind them.

And it gets into the dark places of the mind traveled by Christians: adultery, pornography, menage a trois, S&M, bondage, gay/lesbian fantasies, fetishes, rape fantasies, incest fantasies and the like.

Those dark dark places, where so much fantasy occurs that it all incubates, eventually comes out... with the capability of destroying our lives and the lives around us.

It is a dire secret problem. According to this book, 50% of Christians have a pornagraphy addiction. And 40% of church leadership have a pornagraphy addiction.

This is the third time I've seen the latter statistic, so I guess the studies must be true.

My own pastor said you wouldn't believe the hotel porn tally in the hotel rooms during conventions. I thought he was just saying that. But this book has a discussion of that. So I guess it must be real. I can't imagine. Not our beloved leadership. Sigh

Yet no one talks about it. And like I said in another post, when some scandal jumps off, we are all up in arms. When in fact, all that behavior started with some thoughts and fantasies that were well fed and incubated over a period of time.

Interesting. We all have secret lives. And according to this book, you better get with God and examine those areas and get the help you need. Because that stuff incubates in your mind. And at some time, it's going to produce.

I just like the nonjudgmental tone of the book.

I highlighted close to 45 quotes in this book, but here are some that really struck a tone with me.(I don't have page numbers. I only have e-book location numbers).

1. "Internet pornography is the crack cocaine of sexual addictions" (Location 1342). I read that and thought, uh... really? But the book presents an intriguing in depth discussion of that statement.

2. Sexual arousal is an incredible tranquilizer for all kinds of emotional pain (Location 1414).

3, The main reason that we barter with our bodies for the attention and affection we deeply desire is that we don't trust God for the satisfaction we seek, the provision we need, or the comfort we crave (Location 1782).

And the best quote of all, and if you know how I think, you will immediately know why...

"What we see as a flower or a tree or any other kind of plant is just an extension of what's at the root.  You won't see magnolia leaves sprouting from the roots of a dogwood tree, nor will you see ears of corn shoot off a cucumber vine. What we are in the light is determined by who we are in the dark. Our fruit is merely the product of our roots. Only through tending to our mental emotional and spiritual roots will we bear the healthiest fruit possible.  Ignore the roots, and the plant will suffer. Nurture the root and the plant will thrive. (Location 2848)

Whoo-wee! Honey, you know how I holler about seed and harvest and fruit and trees and stuff like that. This was right up my alley.

What was also intriguing was the fact that much of this fantasy is deeply rooted in childhood emotional baggage, and it is the brain's way of trying to deal with some deep emotional pain. I thought that was a little far-fetched, but interesting nonetheless. The author presented a compelling argument for such.

Alas, it is why Kentucky said what she said to me when she finished reading this book: "It is up to you to make sure you're emotionally grounded."

She said a bunch of other stuff with that, but that was the main point. I agreed with her. You have to do the mental and spiritual work to get rid of some of these secret things.

What I liked, as an example of that, is she told someone to get rid of all distraction for a few days, spend some time in the Word, spend some time journalling, and spend some time praying. And when that person did that, they found the root of their sexual issues (I think this woman was sleeping around hard on her husband... with his friends). Hmm...

All in all, this was a good book, with plenty of examples, a few of which made me holla
"SAY WHAT??!!?"  But those people were brave enough to seek out the help they needed.  And that's a good thing.

Definitely an interesting read. And like I said, the discussion could be extrapolated to many other problem areas in life, whether it be bad habits, addictions, and a host of other problems.

I am glad I took the time to read it.

Book Review: Solomon's Blues by Josephine Garner

A couple of months ago, I wrote one of my routine Monday Morning posts, where I detailed some things I did over the weekend. That particular Saturday, just before the tax due date, I attended a three hour writing workshop. It was quite good. One thing that was said struck me in particular: 

"The most interesting thing I heard is that literature has changed in the last 100 years. Back then, there wasn't any television, so people wanted words, and plenty of them. But now, in our present time, we don't want that. We are distracted with our video games, computers, social media, etc... And as a result, we don't want words, and novels have to basically play to our attention spans."

And I remember sitting there in the workshop thinking... I would LOVE to find a really lengthy novel.

And there are plenty out there: lots of historical stuff, lots of classics.

I didn't want that. I wanted a good piece of black literature.  Something lengthy and very good.

I was a bit too lazy to go and find one. I pretty much forgot about it.

But, lo and behold, I walked into my current writing workshop. I am very much accustomed to being the only black person in a workshop, and I've had to pull rank a couple of times in some really arrogant atmospheres (this means I have to pull out my "Dr." title on jokers. People don't talk trash if they get the notion that I'm smarter than them).

But I didn't get the sense of that from this class. This is a really good mix of ladies. And I'm looking for a class that I can take whenever it is offered, and this is a good one.

And like I said there was a sister in the class.

Hmm...

The instructor asked us what we were working on. We all talked about it. Everyone had interesting subject matter.

I was particularly curious about the sister's work. I had talked about how my present work (that which I would be working on for the class) was an offshoot of a 900 page manuscript that I have (Sweet Heat, some of you have read it). She, this Josephine Garner, said that she'd written something that long and had condensed it down... and she'd published it.

*ladylee sitting there with raised eyebrows, ears open and eyes stretched*

Hmmmmmm...

The name of her book was Solomon's Blues.

*ladylee quickly scribbling this book title in notes*

She talked about this book and how she was working on the sequel.

Now, during class, I have a bad habit of looking up books on Amazon as the teacher talks about or reads excerpts from them..(I know people think I'm texting. That's why I call it a bad habit). I REALLY wanted to look it up right then, but I didn't. Not on the first day of clas.

But I looked it up the next day.

Solomon's Blues is 606 pages long. 

And it's about black folks.

Now what I usually do when it comes to my kindle books is download the sample first, and then buy the book if I like the sample.

I liked this book from the book's epigraph...

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part: but then shall I know even as also I am known.  - I Corinthians 13:12

O_O.

Now you know how I like my spiritual things. I think about spiritual stuff some 90% of the time.

I read that and I thought... "Oh... this is gonna be gooooooood".

And I remember thinking "This right here is one of them rainy day books. Best read on a rainy day!"

Yes, best read when it's raining all day and you can't go anywhere.  And it was. But I read it rain or shine.

It was a good book.  ALL 606 pages of it.

This novel is set back in the 1950s, just after World War II and before the Civils rights movement. This in itself is pretty interesting to me, as I don't really read much about this period of time in our country.

The heroine, Esther Fay Allen, is a young black woman in her twenties, who has had the opportunity to leave her East Texas hometown and live with relatives in Harlem. Her goal was to go to college and become a teacher. But her mother gets diagnosed with terminal cancer, and Esther returns to her hometown (the fictional McConnell County) to take care of her mother. Unfortunately, her mother passes, and the plan is for Esther to return to Harlem and continue her education.

But she sees an opportunity to make some money before she goes back to New York. Her cousin Nathaniel informs her of a person who is looking for a maid.  Esther Fay decides to take this job, as it pays $20 a week (which is A LOT in the 1950s). This decision causes quite a bit of conflict and disapproval, most notably from the family patriarch Isaac Green (affectionately called "Grampa" throughout the book). But Esther decides to take the position anyway.

Esther's employer is Taylor Payne, a lawyer with the state. He needs someone to cook and clean.

What's interesting is that Taylor Payne is a bachelor. This gets a raised eyebrow and it fuels much gossip amongst the whites and the blacks in town. And yes of course, that's a whole nother layer of tension in this book.

Taylor and Esther become friends. This is predictable, as they have a lot in common (both have spent time in the north, they both love the arts, etc)....

...and this friendship blossoms into a romance.

Yeah... that REALLY gets people going.

And the author handles it all with such care. I mean, these two people belong together. Even the reader can see that. And in today's society, it wouldn't be a problem.

But back in the 1950s, when blacks still sat at the back of the bus and were restricted to drinking from the coloreds-only water fountain... this is a huge problem. HUGE.

And again, the author handles it well... with all of its complexities and complications, and in the most non-stereotypical way possible. This wasn't a case of "the white man taking advantage of the black woman", but it was a case of two people depending on each other and falling in love in a very volatile time in this country's history.

This was such an amazing book. The character development and internal struggles of both Taylor and Esther is phenomenal. It is a rough thing in real life trying to define oneself in the midst of searching, and at the same time, being in the throes of balancing internal satisfaction with satisfying the family and friends- the loved ones-  in your life. The author handled these complexities with ease in this fictional setting, enough to make me ponder my own life and challenges while I was reading.

There aren't too many books out there that have affected me so deeply to the point of crying, but this one did.  I could relate to one of the character's estrangement from family, and not having the deep family ties that others have. Yet that character was indeed a really good person, and determined to live the best life that they could. And that is something I myself struggle with. So to see parts of myself and my own personal internal struggles reflected in that particular character made this novel really real for me.

I like the kindle function that allows bookmarks and highlights. I did much of this during the read. So I looked back through my highlights and found my favorite one:

"It wasn't human nature to be satisfied. Mama used to say that no matter what God gave us, people were always, wishin' for meat and wantin' for bread. Even the Hebrew children rescued from Egypt and slavery had railed against their exodus. For ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. God made us. He must have known that we would eat the forbidden fruit and crave it endlessly. The desire for that which was not ours always seemed to be more attractive than what we actually had."

(The bold emphasis of the last sentence is mine).

Oh, that just resonated with me, because that quote, that very last line even, applies to human nature right now, right here in 2013. Oh yes it does. 

My goodness. I could do a whole 10 page food-for-thought post on that quote. But I won't do that. We will just leave it alone.

It was that kind of social and spiritual commentary sprinkled generously throughout the book that left me without air. And this wasn't the author's opinion about things... these were the characters thoughts and opinions about things... about themselves, about people around them, and about life in general.

I said many a time while reading... "How did Josephine come up with that line????"

Another favorite line: 

"...worse than living alone is living a lie."

That's a short quote, but a good one nevertheless... You may need to let that one marinate in your head for a spell. You'll understand that quote in a few days.

You know I have my LadyLee postulates...

We'll just call that quote the Esther postulate #3413.

I think I'm suppose to reference the page number of those quotes. Kindle doesn't have page numbers.

Uh, those quotes are located at Locations 11795 and 13790 respectively.  That is all.

LOL

I bought this book on Kindle:

And it was such a good read that I ordered the book.

Yes... I have my book in a plastic bag. Why? Because I am hard on books.  I want this one to stay clean and untattered for awhile.

And... side story: The day I received the book in the mail, I took my neighbor to the gas station for some gas for her lawnmower. (I was HIGHLY perturbed by this, as I needed to get to my writing class and this was a detour. But you know me... sow seed now). She got in my car... along with her 4 year-old granchild.

I remember this litte girl, who was strapped in the backseat, reaching over to my mail on the other side and and my cherished copy of Solomon's Blues and picking it up and hollering "What kinda book is this!?"

Man... I almost went Ma'dea on her...

"Little girl!" I hollered, my voice a couple of octaves higher than normal.. "Little girl, little girl, little girl! Put my book down!"

Oh goodness. Thank goodness her grandma was walking back to the car with her gas can. Oooooh weeeee... little girl, little girl.

Thank goodness that little girl knows how to follow instructions.

*lee gently taking book from child and holding it securely in her lap as she drives the neighbors back to their house*

Man... I almost blacked out on that poor child. She was just asking a simple question.  But she's at that age where she will throw stuff out of an open window. And I would have hate for her and her grandma walking home in the hot sunshine just cuz that baby threw my book out the window.

Okay, so I took my book out of the plastic for ya'll.

My boss was reading the back cover. I sat in my cubicle peering at her curiously. I was ready to tackle her to the ground just in case she tried to walk off with it. Yes, I need my job, but that is MY book. That's like walking off with my pocketbook. You don't do that.

I bought the book because I want to smell the pages. I want to read it again. And I want the author's autograph.

And I remember thinking when I read the final word... "Man oh man... I wish I could write like that on that level.

It's like she has a doctorate in creative writing or something. Lawd have mercy.

And she asks the most interesting questions in class. She asked a question about technical execution in the last class. I was sitting there smirking to myself. I wanted to hold her book up high and holler...

"Josephine! What in the world are you talking about???? Have you read your own book??? This book is a Masters class in technical execution!!!!!"

LOL.

I didn't do all that. I whispered something snide across the table. That's all. I meant what I whispered though. Really.

It has helped me A LOT with my thoughts on an old half finished manuscript. Some of you may remember a set of character sketches I posted for my novel Fancy That. (click here to read prologue and one of the four the major character sketches). This book helped me think a bit deeply about it.

I took the book to class, and Josephine Garner kindly signed it!

I wanted to SCREAM. I was pleased as punch. I almost started rocking and laughing like Miss Sophia at the Easter supper table in The Color Purple.

It was a pleasure to be in class with Ms. Garner. I think it was meant to be that I met her. She herself is a professional just like myself.... and she loves to write.  It was good to meet someone like myself. And she has given me some good advice. I was just going to publish via ebook, but I think I will think about the hardcopy. She was very encouraging in that vein.

And she likes my blog. You know me, I am always O_o when someone likes my ramblings. But thankful nevertheless. Really thankful.

She said during class that she is working on the sequel to Solomon's Blues.

The classmates sit along a long table. I sit in the vincinity of Ms. Garner. Yes, I am actively listening to the teacher, taking copius notes, and googling the names of books dropped by the teacher...

But I'm actively waiting for a page of the rough draft of Ms. Garner's next book to fall to the floor or to be left carelessly behind on the table... so I can give it back to her... ONLY after reading the page of course. LOL
What a good book. It's been quite a long time since a book has stirred and disturbed me (in a good way), and has left me pondering my own ideals and personal philosphies on life.  If you're looking for a wonderfully detailed and introspective piece of fiction, check this book out. You will be thinking about it long after you finish. Very long.

I know I will be.

Class is over this Thursday night. I hate to see it end, because it has been quite good for me.

And I have a bad habit of sitting there all impatient, waiting for the class to be over... so that I can bother Ms. Garner about what I had read in Solomon's Blues and how I felt about it. I am normally a quiet chick, but I've been YACKING hard about it. Ms. Garner is eloquent in speech, a true professional, and I am a bit ebonically inclined. I think some of my ebonics slipped out, but I have watched myself.

I've wanted to holler "Honey Chile! That book sho' nuff good!" *hits Josephine with Obama church fan*

But I've smoothed it out to "Yo, that's a good book right there. Real good."

I know Ms. Garner has to be like "What the world? Does this this gal not know that it's late and that I must get home??"

LOL.

Honey, i wouldn't say a word to you if it was not a good book. Nope.

But this book was great! I can't wait to read it again. Not electronically, but on paper this time.

Yes indeed. 

Book Review: Buying Time by Pamela Samuels-Young

Wow!

2 book reviews in one month!

Is that even possible?

Yes it is!

Especially when I'm coming across really good books.

And that's exactly how I felt about my latest read, Buying Time by Pamela Samuels-Young.

This wonderful author was even gracious enough to come to our latest book club meeting and discuss Buying Time with us.

And you know I got my book signed.


Can't read that? Look a little closer!



LOL!

Here's a summary of the plot (picked up from Amazon.com)

"Waverly Sloan is a down-on-his-luck lawyer. But just when he's about to hit rock bottom, he stumbles upon a business with the potential to solve all of his problems.

In Waverly's new line of work, he comes to the aid of people in desperate need of cash. But there's a catch. His clients must be terminally ill and willing to sign over rights to their life insurance policies before they can collect a dime. Waverly then finds investors eager to advance them thousands of dollars—including a hefty broker's fee for himself—in exchange for a significant return on their investment once the clients take their last breath.

The stakes get higher when Waverly brokers the policy of the cancer-stricken wife of Lawrence Erickson, a high-powered lawyer who's bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General. When Waverly's clients start dying sooner than they should, both Waverly and Erickson—who has some skeletons of his own to hide—are unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail and murder."

Man... just reading that, I was wondering "Where is she going with all this?"

I didn't care. Because she always does a good job, and this book was no different.

This was a very slick, well written legal thriller.

Let's just say: John Grisham ain't got NOTHING on Pamela Samuels-Young. Nothing!!

Each character was very well developed, and I was kept guessing until the very end. It was the type of book that I couldn't put down... Each chapter ended with a little cliffhanger that made me want to keep reading...

... and reading.

If you don't believe, trot on over to her website and read an excerpt, the prologue. It'll hook you right on in.

Let's just say, I finished this 400 pager in 4 days. Loved-ed it!!

The most interesting thing about this book for me was how the subplots all folded gently into the main plot/storyline. There was much intrigue, but a little romance in their also. (And you know us ladies love that.) Her books feature strong black female lawyers, and this one was no different, as the lawyer investigating the case was a savvy sister. Within the fictional work, the author also gives a good amount of information and education on the law aspects of the novel, without going over my head.

And I like that Ms. Samuels-Young takes a little time to discuss how she came up with the idea (she came up with this "viatical brokerage" idea while attending a party), and she also discusses her process and crafting of the novel. (And you know, as a writer, I LOVE that, man!). She even answered some of my questions one-on-one.

Now, what I really liked about this book is that it was self-published... and you couldn't even tell. In fact, the book looked better and read better than any recent book I've read from a publishing house.

I'm so glad she's taken the reins in her own hands and decided her own future, instead of dealing with these publishing companies. (If you didn't know it, the publishing houses are straight clowning black authors right now. I don't see why folks don't get together and form their own BLACK OWNED small presses. Take a lesson from Tyler Perry, folks. Hmm. Got this Oldgirl thinking really hard over here, since I have a ton of short stories and 3 manuscripts laying around.)

It was refreshing to talk to her, to get the writer's perspective on the creation of such a good book.

She came to a book club meeting some 4 years ago to discuss one of her books, and I'd made cookies back then. She even remembered my cookies this time...

That's right... I showed up with some 5 dozen oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip pecan cookies.

So thanks Ms. Samuels Young for attending our book club meeting.

I love your books! I, LadyLee, will always be a fan!

So now, it's picture time. And it's picture grab time. Yeah, I was at the meeting yelling "Ya'll drop by the blog and pick up your pictures, because I'm not emailing them to you!!!! "

LOL!!!

Pamela Samuels-Young and her college roommate Donna Lowry.

Donna's not a member of our book club, but I remember coming into restaurant thinking "Dang! That chick looks VERY familiar." I thought she was a model or something. Turns out I watch her every morning on one of our local television stations. She's an anchor. (I didn't say anything until someone brought it up. You know me, if I don't know you, I don't talk to you, lol). But it was interesting to meet someone I watch on televison every morning as I'm getting ready for work!!

The author and our bookclub president Angela!

Angela just had a baby and is returning after a quick sabattical. Welcome back, Angela!!

Judy come get your picture, honey!

Judy can't do that right now, as she is getting married Saturday in Vegas. Judy's tweeting about winning money out there on the slots already. (Hey Ma, you owe me some money. I won't my money when you get back. DON'T make me come looking for you, Judes. *LadyLee cracking knuckles*).

The only dude in our bookclub, Sidney. Come get your picture, boy!!

Poor Sidney! He brings the male perspective to each meeting, but he gets a verbal a** whooping each time. He holds up well against his book club sistas. (And uh, I will send you that other picture with the author and Donna... Can't put that up here, that'll be trouble! lol! Look out for that!)

Super STAR and the author. Come get your picture girl.


STAR is the T-shirt lady. She has one of her special shirts on here, but it didn't shock me like others. (I'll discuss in another post). And Happy Birthday, Star!

Come get your pictures, sistas (and bruh Sid).

This was a great book club meeting. Ms. Samuels-Young even let us in on what she's currently working on, which is the fourth book in her first series! I can't wait for that one! It sounds real good! (As to be expected!)

Look out for the author on the Monique show soon!

So, if you're into thrillers that leave you on the edge of your seat, pick up Buying Time.

I promise you, you won't regret it!

Book Review: Secrets and Lies by Rhonda McKnight

I must admit...

I'm not the biggest fan of Inspirational Christian fiction.

My guess is that this is because some of the earlier books in the genre were a bit lightweight and unrealistic.

People were too perfect.

I don't like to read stories of "perfect people".

And some Christians, well, I think of them as perfect people: saying all the right things, doing all the right things, having all the right things...

"Perfect People"

And yet somehow, I tend to think the Christian life is not a perfect life... and people are hiding things, or silently going through something...

Or struggling with deep rooted issues from the past.

That's exactly what was occuring in a book I read recently entitled Secrets and Lies by newcomer Rhonda McKnight. I came across Ms. McKnight on Facebook. She was a FB friend of one of my favorite Christian fiction novelist Sherri Lewis, so I decided to check her out.

And she's a fellow ATLien. I LOVE books that have my city as a backdrop. It makes the book more authentic when I know the hoods and streets involved.

I really enjoyed this book.

So much so that I tapped my cubicle mate Cowgirl Cre on the shoulder, held the book up high and yelled "Cre, this chick wrote the CHEESE outta this book!!!!"

(Uh, that means she wrote the book really well, lol).


This novel is the story of Jonah and Faith Morgan, a nice happy family. They're the perfect family, really. Jonah is a successful pediatric cardiologist, and his wife Faith is a stay-at-home Mom to their son and daughter. They have a nice home, nice cars. Faith also volunteers at church with the women's ministry.

Perfect family. Perfect people.

But Jonah is a workaholic. And he also likes to drink. He doesn't spend much time with the family.

And the first line of the book about these perfect people caught me totally offguard.

"He's cheating."

That's what Faith thinks when she starts getting a series of calls from an unknown number. The caller never identifies herself. And of course, Faith suspects the worse, as any woman would.

But all is not what it appears to be...

And secrets are revealed, and lies unravel. And it all happens from a stance that I just didn't expect.

Perfect people have problems. And it only proved what I've always thought: Nobody's perfect.

We pray to God about problems. Or we shake our fist at God because of our problems. Or we act out because of those problems. All of that is seen in this story.

This story is an illustration of how unforgiveness and hurts from the past can infect one's life, and in turn, infect the lives of all involved.

A very good read indeed. And it was very interesting that through all the mess, I could see God working in the background trying to bring correction to the situation.... only if He was allowed to, that is.

I consider a book a good read if I'm thinking about it long after I've finished reading it. And this one made me think, and still makes me think, about one thing in particular:

Deal with your problems, or your problems will deal with you. Period.

Lesson learned indeed.

So if you're looking for a great page turner, check out this book. You won't be disappointed, and you'll learn something about yourself in the process...

And you can't beat that, man!

Book Review: Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice

I read the most interesting book over the Easter holiday weekend.

And you heard me right... over the weekend.

It is rare for me to pick up a book and read it straight through over a couple of days.

Very rare.

I spend a good week or two these days on a book. (What's up with that?)

But this particular book, Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice, really caught my attention.

I've never read anything byCarleen Brice. I just know she's a member of Miss Celie's (Tayari Jones) blog family. So I see her over in those parts, lol! Plus, she has a blog, The Pajama Gardener.

But when I read a synopsis of the book, I immediately placed it at the top of my reading list.

Now, I had plans for my Easter weekend, and I pretty much ditched all ot them...

Because I couldn't put this book down.

Orange Mint and Honey is the story of Shay Dixon, a twenty-five year old grad student attending school in Iowa. In the beginning of the story, she is at an all time low: depressed, broke, and burned out. Her only bit of joy in life is jazz music, and she is particularly enamored by the High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone. A "visitiation/dream" of sorts takes place, and Nina Simone convinces her that she (Shay) needs to go home.

The problem is, home is NOT a nice place. She grew up with Nona, a mother who was an hardcore alcoholic. In fact, Shay hadn't spoken to her mother in seven years. Shay's childhood was so jacked up that Shay pretty much raised her ownself. As a result, she is angry and emotionally scarred.

When Shay returns home to Denver, she finds a mother who's totally different. Nona is now in AA, and a recovering alcoholic. She even sponsors another recovering alcoholic, a young woman around Shay's age. Nona's an avid gardener. And she is also raising Shay's 3-year-old half-sister Sunny in a healthy environment.

So, the attitude should be-

"My mother is wonderful now, and we can all hold hands and walk off into the sunset. Oh joy!"

Uh, no.

It ain't that simple.

Shay is angry and resentful. Who wouldn't be? And now, she has to look at her mother Nona who is now, all of a sudden... stable?

Can Shay accept and forgive this unrecgonizable "new" Nona?

Hmmm...

Shay and Nona have to come to terms with each other. The past... that's the problem. That's the wall shored up between them.

The story goes on from there.

I am drawn to stories about complicated mother/daughter relationships, as I myself have terrible "Mommy isshas". These stories give me insight into my ownself, and my own problems with forgiveness. And this had to be one of the best novels I've ever read that REALLY delved deep into the complicated act of forgiveness.

The author did a fantastic job weaving themes of addiction, renewal, mother/daughter complexities, and forgiveness, all of which are very tough themes.

Now, don't let the lovely title and pretty cover fool you.

*LadyLee vigorously shaking head*

This was a tough, heart-wrenching book. Very tough and in your face. I mean, the author held nothing back and got really raw with it. I had to put it down for a minute and think hard about a few things. It really had a powerful affect on me. It's been a good two weeks since I read it, and I am still thinking about this book.

Plus, it's just very nice to read a book that is EXTREMELY well written and thought out.

I've never had Orange mint, but it is supposed to be bitter, wild, and grows all out of control.

That's how I saw the main character Shay- bitter, angry, pissed, hurt.

But is it possible, somehow, to soften out all that bitterness... with a little honey, perhaps?

Hmm...

If you're looking for a good fast read, and especially if you have some of these issues, you should really check out this book.

And check out the drink! Miss Celie (Tayari) has posted a nice recipe, Carleen's Orange Mint Mojitos, as a part of her Cocktails and Writers series.

Looking for a good read? Go get this book!

You won't regret it:)

Wine, Words, and The Darkest Child

It's been a looong time since I've done a book review. And what's funny, I have several of them in blogger draft, but haven't posted them...

But this one, The Darkest Child, is extra special, since it was the first book for Serenity23 and Ms.Blackliterature.com's (Sherri's) inaugural Wine and Words book club meeting.

The meeting was held in Charlotte, NC. Since it's only 3.5-4 hours from Atlanta, DJ Diva and I decided to drive up.

But back to The Darkest Child.

I first heard about this book from one of my Elite Original Oldgirl Critique team members, a fellow chemist "Yo-Yo". I'm always sending her scraps of things that I write and she is good about critiquing them and asking interesting questions. She's always telling me about books she reads and she was so enamored with this one that she brought in her copy for me to read.

I have a whole lot going on right now, so it is increasingly difficult for me to sit down and read. Serenity asked me what I was reading and I told her The Darkest Child. She went out and got it and read it in a day and really enjoyed it, and decided to choose it as the first book for her bookclub meeting.

Now The Darkest Child centers on the life of the Quinn family, a family of 10 children headed up by a single mother, Rozelle Quinn. The story takes place during the sixties in rural Georgia, and is narrated by 13 year old Tangy Mae Quinn, who happens to be the darkest of all of Rozelle's children (Rozelle, who is biracial, has her "white children, indian children, and black children. Rozelle keeps her children in line by all types of abuse, all of it heartless in nature. The children are conflicted, as they do love their mother, but at the same time, desire to have their own lives,and not be under their mother's control. Tangy Mae herself loves school and dreams of furthering her education. To make things worse, much of the story takes place during times of racial discrimation and racial change.

That's the gist of it. It would take me several posts just to run through the plot, because this book had A LOT going on. I counted at least 30 characters in this story, and my biggest problem was keeping everybody straight (ages of characters, who was who, etc.). This is a big issue for me because I read books now for entertainment and stylistic purposes (I take a lot of style notes for use in my own writing an tend to learn something useful for my own writing).

The author does an excellent job with visualization and description, but I and some of the other Wine and Words book club members wished she would have concentrated on one or two situations, as it would have made for a much tighter story. (I counted one at least eight subplots in this novel. There were at least two plotlines that I could tell she could've explored, but it would have stretched the novel out further.)

On a personal level, this book disturbed me because the matriarch was like an extreme version of my own mother. That bothered me, almost to the point of putting the book down. But I had to focus on the fact that it is a story... not MY story. An overall, it was a good story.

As I said earlier, this was the inaugural book for the Wine and Words book club meeting. I drove up for it. I enjoyed myself, and the discussion was top notch, all of what a book club meeting should be. I liked it because it was a small group of people. I am a member of a large book club, and someone as reserved as myself doesn't do well in such settings. (I jut my hand high in the air when I want to say something... not something I care to do). But this was nice. Serenity23 made the BOMB gumbo. And she is a bootleg wine connieseur, i.e., there was MUCH wine flowing!

I disturbed S23 something terrible when I wanted my water served in a wine glass. I did that just to mess with you, chile. (Every once in awhile the LadyLee side of my personality sneaks out, you know).

The food was excellent. Serenity made the BOMB gumbo (gal, you needed some CRABS in THAT!). I made a batch each of my world famous oatmeal walnut raisin cookies and chocolate chip pecan cookies.

I also brought a loaf of french bread...

But...

I didn't realize how much bread I had to have when I visited Charlotte.

Something that I wasn't totally prepared for...

To be continued...

Book Review: A Heart of Devotion by Tia McCollors

Now I mentioned in a post last month, when I reviewed this author's Zora Cry, that I wasn't going to review this book because it wasn't current. It is a little over a year old.

I gotta go back on that.

Sorry, I, the Oldgirl, lied.

I must mention this book because it has to be the most important book I read last year. Probably the most important I've read in a very long time.

And I read A LOT of books. This was one that I read back in December... and it is still burning in my mind. It's kinda like when you look at the sun for too long and you turn away... and you still see the sun, even with your eyes closed tight.

And it takes a bit of time to wear off.

Well, that's how this book was for me... I think about it everyday.

I really don't know how to describe this book. The post would be MUCH too long if I tried. So I think I will just copy the description from the bookmark that was included with the book. It really wraps up in a nutshell what this book is all about. I don't think Ms. Tia McCollors will mind. If so, send me a polite email, Tia, lol... No need to try to sue a sista!

"Best friends Anisha Blake and Sherri Dawson are inseparable until Anisha is swept away by Tyson Randall. Engulfed in romance, her intimate relationship with God becomes an afterthought. When her life begins to crumble, Anisha risks losing Tyson to a conniving woman from his past. Meanwhile, Sherri's desire for companionship drops her in the face of her own spiritual battle. Ultimately, Anisha is determined to set their lives back on the path to God's will. But can she make room in her heart for both her strong love of God and the love of her life?"

Yeah... it's inspirational. And it hits on a common problems: the choices we make, and the consequences of those choices; praying to God for help and waiting for answers.

The whole time I was reading this book, I was thinking to myself, "What is going to happen? How is this whole story going to play out?" I really cared about these characters.

I tell you, after I finished this book, I was shaken up a bit.

But I was also thinking "Goodness, I've been through this before, trying to do what's right, and failing miserablly. This is so familiar."

(Let me just say, my twenties were a very DARK time of my life.)

"I remember reading the last page, thinking "Hey that was good, let me go and get ready for work."

And then I remember standing in the kitchen, fixing my breakfast, and just breaking down crying right there at the stove. I remember saying "God now I understand. I am SO SORRY I was such a ho in my twenties! I am sorry I wasted so much of my life!"

I could not believe that I was having a crying fit at the kitchen counter. I don't know, I just look at my twenties, a 10 year slice of my life, and felt utter disappointment, I guess.

If only I would have had this book when I was in my twenties... I really don't know where I would be right now. Maybe there would have been less detours off my life's path or something.

In my 20's I was off the chain. Not as off the chain as most, but I had my own agenda. People who know me now, and not then would find that a bit laughable. Anyway, after reading this book, and looking back on my life, I realized I wasted a lot of time and made A LOT of bad decisions. A lot. A lot of time wasted smoking, dranking, looking for trouble, twerking VERY dangerously... the list goes on and on... and on. Just self-destructive as all get out...
And that is why I cried after I read it.

Geez.

Let's just say that I HIGHLY recommend this book to ANY woman who is in their 20's, who is in the midst of making choices... Let's face it, and I am speaking for myself, and quite a few of the women that I know... we all have been through that "phase" of wanting to get ourselves right with God, wanting to hear from God, just wanting to get our head right, trying to get away from dealing with people and places you know you ain't got no business dealing with.

This book hit so many isshas so swiftly and so efficiently.

Now was this a real review? Not sure, in the sense of the way I usually review a book... Just know that this book touched my heart. I am still in the midst of searching out my purpose in this world, as I know MANY others who are in that phase.

And this book, A heart for Devotion... It answered a lot of questions...

Questions that I didn't even know how to ask.

This book was an exceptional ministry tool, and I hope someone will use it to minister to young women who are just out there, trying to get themselves together, and searching for their purpose in life.

Great thought provoking book... Do yourself a favor and go check it out.

Book Review: Zora's Cry by Tia McCollors

For the month of November, my COF II book club announced that we would be reading Tia McCollor’s Zora’s Cry, a book which falls in the genre of inspirational/Christian fiction.

After that announcement, I had visions of myself jumping from my seat and yelling

“Whistle on the play!”

Now, one thing I have never particularly jumped up and ran to the bookstore for is inspirational fiction. Why? Because I didn’t want to read about perfect Christian people with perfect lives.

One word: UNREALISTIC

Too unrealistic… Even when I read my bible, I see people who are a bit um, how should I say it... off the chain. So, um, I’ma be mad if I read some inspirational fiction and people aren’t struggling in some manner.

Some of that changed when I read a couple of books by Victoria Christopher Murray, one of the more popular African American writer who specializes in the Christian/inspirational genre. Why? Because she wrote books about Christian people with real problems trying to work through all of their mess.

One word: REALISTIC!

So, this made me a little more open to the genre. Now when I read anything spiritual, it is usually nonfiction in nature, something along the lines of self-help or history. I kind of stay away from the fiction side of it.

Well, I decided to give Ms. McCollor’s book a try. It was the book club selection, and Tia McCollors (pictured to the right holding Zora's Cry) was going to be at the book club meeting. Also, Tia McCollor’s is pretty hype here in the ATL… I've heard or seen advertisement for her book all over the place, and I was a bit curious about what this book would offer.

A quick synopsis:

The book centers on aspects of the lives of four women.

Zora is a young woman who is still trying to come to grips with the sudden death of her parents, is about to be married. While searching for her mother’s bridal veil, she comes across adoption papers. Afterwards, she falls into an identity crisis, which should be expected after such a revelation. She vows to find her biological parents, even if other things going on in her life suffer because of it.

Her best friend Monet has issues of her own. She is in the midst of a shaky on-again, off again romance with a suave politician, while pondering the possibilities with another suitor.

There are two other women in this story. Belinda is a new mother who is having to adjust to motherhood while taking care of her own mother, who happens to be fighting cancer. Finally, Paula, who from the outside seems to have the perfect life, finds herself pregnant and in the midst of a shaky marriage. She is convinced that her husband is having an extramarital affair.

A women’s discipleship group brings these four women together. In the beginning, everyone is faking the funk, but after awhile, those facades and masks drop, and the women pray for each other, draw strength from each other, and learn to depend on God.

Wow.

A lot going on. A LOT.

And that’s what I loved about this book.

Now I read 2-3 books at a time, and rotate between them all based on good stopping points. Zora’s Cry started off a bit slow for me, so I didn’t really get into it until I hit the second chapter. That’s not good, because it was one of the few times that I didn’t finish a book before the book club meeting. And I like to do that, especially if the author will be at the meeting.

But once I did get into the book, I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to cold smack myself for not reading it sooner. I can really see what all the hype was about.

Zora’s Cry has to be one of the most important books that I have read all year. I may just read it once a year to keep my doggone head straight...

The first reason I enjoyed this book is that it had a lot of characters and common situations. Now, I am strange. I really don’t like books with one main character. I like books with a lot of characters and a lot of different situations. And if an author can weave all of these characters and their lives together very nicely, I am happy. To me, those are the best books.

The second reason I liked this book? It was realistic. Christian people going through life issues, and having to depend on God and developing in their faith in spite of funky circumstances. You know, you can only fake the funk for so long. What one really believes comes out after awhile. There comes a time where you have to have faith, in the midst of whatever you’re going through. And that was a HUGE theme running throughout this book.

The third reason I enjoyed this book is because I am part of an Inspirational Journal Writing Group. I found back in January, much to my surprise, that there is a wonderful spiritual aspect to the group. And looking back over the past year? Man, let’s just say that I looked forward to our meetings. Sometimes, I’ve been going through crap, feeling terrible, and I just REALLY needed that group to help me along, and just for folks to catch hands and pray and get in agreement over triumph in problem areas in our lives. That was a big theme in this book also, one of which I could most certainly relate to. After all the facades dropped, these women learned to lean on and support each other spiritually.

Like I said, this has to be one of the most important books I’ve read all year. From the outside, these women looked as if life was all perfect. But they were struggling internally with issues. That was very realistic to me. It was definitely an eye-opener.

Excellent book. Lot’s of scripture and wisdom sprinkled throughout, and it made for a very satisfying read. It is rare that I read a fiction book that ministers to my heart. And this book makes me want to go seek out more books which touch me in that manner.

This was something I really needed.

This is an excellent book for anyone who is struggling with trusting God to help them in the midst of their personal issues.

Now, this is Tia McCollor’s second book. Her first book is A Heart for Devotion, and it too is a very good book. I am currently reading it, and I am at the halfway point. I may not review it here, since it is not current, but it is definitely worth mentioning.

I was glad to get a chance to meet Ms. McCollors. I have NO idea why when I go to a reading, or when an author is a guest at our meetings, that I expect her to arrive in a long flowing dress and tiara, holding a scepter in her hand. (What IS my problem??) She was very much down to earth, answered all of our questions, and just basically chilled and signed books.

But you know me, right? You know I asked some writing questions.

And it was all kind of like in slow motion, when she was gathering her things so she could leave... '

I wanted to scream... "Wait, Tia, don't go!!!!!"

But I composed myself, and said in the most sane manner possible, my heart beating a mile a minute, "Tia, can I ask you a question?"

She said yes and she answered them all, and asked me to email her if I had anymore questions.

GLORY! Ha, ha! I won't bother her (ya'll know how I HATE bugging peeps)... Just glad she was so forthcoming in answering our questions, etc.

I'm definitely one of your new fans, Tia, and continued success!

So if you are looking for a good read, especially during the holiday season, check out Zora’s Cry.

You won’t be disappointed.

Book Review: Only True Love Waits by Dwan Abrams

A couple of weekends ago, I had the pleasure of sharing a ride to my book club's retreat up in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains with Atlanta author Dwan Abrams. She dropped so much knowledge on me that I am STILL trying to comprehend it all! She definitely makes me think differently about the whole writing process! After conversating with her... I was high as a kite!

Had me almost leaping from the car, snatching up my laptop and screaming...

I feel like writing!!!!!

So you know I had to read her book, right?

Really though.

Well, the title of her book is Only True Love Waits, and it is a romantic suspense. I was especially interested in her book because my manuscript is a romantic suspense. So you know I had to read it.

The book starts out with a bang, right off the bat (and I like that!). None of that warming up type stuff, let's just shoot from the hip!

Xavier Roberts, the male protagonist, has everything going for him. He's an aspiring rapper and he is engaged to be married to the love of his life, Summer Love. But a doctor visit brings some bad news: he's been diagnosed with testicular cancer. He goes through a range of emotions, and instead of sharing his feelings with his fiancee, he decides to call the wedding off. He doesn't want to put her through any unnecessary grief about his problem. Summer is crushed. Summer has no idea why he called everything off. As a result, she is left distraught, rejected, and alone.

Summer does what a lot of us women normally do: she pours all of her energy into work, i.e., opening her new company, Spa Nevaeh. She meets a nice man, Ryan Kennedy, at the glitzy grand opening of the spa. Ryan just so happens to be the CEO of the record label that signed her ex-fiance Xavier. Summer decides to date Ryan, as she feels that she needs to get over Xavier and move on with her life. She decides this even after learning of Ryan's troubled past.

Hmmm.

That's not the end of the story, though. Xavier goes through medical treatment for his early stage cancer, and after receiving a clean bill of health from his doctor, gets up the courage to pursue Summer again. He comes clean about why he broke up with her, and Summer gets back with him (after breaking up with Ryan).

That's not the end of the story either. It would have been a nice ending, but nope... not the end.

Ryan's not going out like that. A darker side of Ryan is revealed...

And honey? It ain't all about him being upset about the breakup...

GOODNESS!

You will have to read the book to find out the details...

Now, at only 151 pages, Only True Love Waits was a FAST read, full of suspense, with so many twists and turns that it left my head spinning. It's been a long time since I've been like...

"Hold on, I know that THAT didn't just happen! Let me go back a page and make sure!"

And I liked that!

Now, what I really liked about this book was the inspirational/spiritual vibes and undertones. As women, you know we can always think back to when we were dating someone, and knowing within ourselves early on at some point that something just wasn't right about dude. I saw that here. Summer was a good girl, doing everything "right", like saving herself for her future husband, etc., but we all make mistakes and use poor judgement even in the midst of being prayerful about the situations. And as a result, we have to deal with the consequences of that lack of judgement. Even in the midst of the issues, we can still pray, and things come together again.

I was thinking about that aspect of the book long after I read the final page.

And I was very impressed with the amount of backstory in this book, especially in the latter chapters. I am always amazed when an author can successfully blend a good backstory into the main story, and everything is relevant...

I enjoyed this book, and I most definitely am looking forward to more books by Ms. Abrams.

So if you're looking for a good fast read that will keep your attention, and have you thinking long after you turn the last page...

Pick up Only True Love Waits.

You won't be disappointed!

Book Review: Vicious by Brandon Massey

One of my favorite authors, Brandon Massey, has done it once again:

He's written yet another truly exceptional book, Vicious.

Now this book wasn't released through his traditional publisher. It is self-published, released through Massey's own Dark Corner Publishing.

The story's heroine is a young woman by the name of Kym. She's at that point in her life, where, at the age of thirty, she is thinking about why she hasn't found the right man, the direction of her life in general...

You know how we ladies like to ponder such things...

Well, she has a younger college age sister, Ashley, and they don't get along very well. The sister attends college in the state of California, and their father usually drives the sister out to school and flies back. But this time, their father has business plans, and Kym volunteers to drive her sister cross country to USC. Kym figures that this road trip will give her and her sister some time together, some time to bond. Kym also wants to use this a chance to get away from things... to think about things going on in her life.

But they didn't anticipate running into problems on their trip... Problems with a crazed predator. During the middle of their trip, somewhere in the state of Texas, Kym realized that they are being stalked and followed. The man following them is a crazed predator, who roams the freeways in a beat-up pickup truck with a possessed pack of dogs, hunting for travelers far away from home.

This time, he has his sites set on Kym... and he will do any and everything he can just to get to her.

One thing I like about Brandon's writing is that he kicks things up a good notch with each book he writes. Excluding his horror anthologies and short story collections, this is his fifth full length novel.

And each one just gets better and better... and better.

Now this was Brandon's first time writing from a female character's point of view, and I must say that he did a great job. But what I like most about this novel, as in all his novels, is his uncanny ability to weave various storylines into an already good horror story. I enjoyed the sibling rival storyline, the nicely placed backstories, the family relationship storyline, the supernatural twists, and Kym's overall ponderings about her life, much of which I could relate to.

But Brandon also did something spectacular here that I have experienced in his other books, but NOT to this degree...

Dude got over into some SERIOUS serious sensory overload. I was not expecting that at all. It definitely added to the fear factor of the book!

Now, the majority of this novel was set in the dry deserts of Southwest. I've never been to the deserts of the Southwest, but after reading this novel, I know how that desert smells, feels, tastes, looks and sounds... I felt like I was there, right there in the midst of the action. There is no way you can tell me I wasn't right there. He has such an amazing feel for visualization and description that I caught myself yelling quite a few times...

"Run girl... RUN!!"

"Shoot that fool, girl... SHOOT him!!"

*Ladylee looking around to make sure no one heard her yelling*

LOL!!

In addition to his great storytelling, Brandon ALWAYS leaves the reader with the most unpredictable endings... Endings one could never guess, no matter how hard one tries!

Goodness!!!

So if you are looking for a fast paced action packed read, check out Vicious by Brandon Massey!

I promise, you won't be disappointed!