Selling My Soul by Sherri Lewis

The Scandolous Truth
Selling My Soul by Sherri Lewis examines what people value most, what makes them feel loved, cared for, comforted and comfortable, and the depths they will go through to keep, have and protect these things. Ms. Lewis begins the story with the main character, Trina Michaels, discovering how it feels to re-enter, or become reacclimated, with American society after having returned from a mission trip in Mozambique. As the story unravels, Trina realizes just how different the two worlds and cultures are, from day to day things such as driving, hygiene and food and water intake, to spiritual values. Readers will definitely examine the little things most take for granted.

The novel also addresses negative seeds and positive seeds having the power to either deter or promote spiritual growth. The Michaels women, Trina, Tiffany and their mother, must all learn to confront their pasts in order to be released into their futures. Trina, although spiritually strong and a woman of great faith, finds herself examing her own decisions when it comes to her love interest, Gabe, and taking on a job she doesn’t want. Trina needs the money. Her mother’s health is failing, and the bills need to be paid. The plot thickens when Trina learns that the job she has taken has the potential to destroy her relationship with her best friend, Monica. Will Trina represent an antagonist in this story? Will she actually sell her soul for the mighty dollar?

I enjoyed this selection, and appreciated, too, the subplot of Kevin’s redemption and deliverance from a painful childhood experience. The pace of the story worked well for me. I also felt like I got to know each of the characters very well, even the infamous Bishop Walker, whom I really didn’t care for.

Through supporting characters, Trina’s love interest Gabe, Tiffany, Trina’s mother, Monica, Kevin, Blanche at Silver PR and Bishop Walker, Ms. Lewis delivers a good story with a good message. Having a little faith can get you out of a whole lot of sticky situations. You never have to sell your soul. If you just trust God, He will give you all the provision you need. I believe readers will close this book with a final thought that “God makes a way every time.”

Disclaimer: An ARC of this book was forwarded to me by the author for review. No compensation was received.

Reviewed by Tavares S. Carney

Dreams That Won’t Let Go by Stacy Hawkins Adams
Reviewed by Tavares S. Carney

Hold On Just A Little While Longer

This novel, Dreams That Won’t Let Go by Stacy Hawkins Adams, is the final offering from Ms. Adams’ Jubilant Soul trilogy. While this book does stand alone, it is with great pleasure that I am happy to have read installment one, The Someday List. Interestingly enough, without having read installment two of the series, Worth A Thousand Words, I was able to pick right back up with the ongoings of the Burns family. In Dreams That Won’t Let Go, the Burns clan grapples with issues that each has been holding within. Grateful to the grandparents who raised them, the three Burns children, Reuben, Indigo and Yasmin, can not help but to wonder if somehow their dreams have been deferred.

As Reuben, Indigo and Yasmin face their fears, they hope to one day realize their dreams, and to have the kind of family they each long for. After a more recent upheaval, and with the aid of the supporting characters, Peyton, Reuben’s wife, and Max, Indigo’s fiancee’, as well as Pastor Taylor, the Burns family struggles to overcome pain and hurt that has festered for years.

I enjoyed reading this selection. The characters are well-developed, and believable. I recommend this selection to parents afraid to let go and let God and any reader that enjoys inspirational selections.

Reviewed by Tavares S. Carney

Prodigal by Zaria Garrison

Review by Tavares S. Carney

 Not Double the Fun

 Zaria Garrison introduces us to Phylicia Morgan and Phoebe Cox, twin sisters with an estranged relationship.  Phylicia is a stay-at-home, wife and mother to the Reverend Gary Morgan.  Phoebe is financially stable and seems to be living the American dream.  Phylicia, on the other hand, is a flighty diva, the go for broke type that loves to keep up with the Jones’, or in this case, the Morgans.

The plot thickens when the twins’ mother falls ill, taking a turn for the worse, and asks Phylicia to call Phoebe home.  When Phoebe gets to Brown Bottom, painful feelings resurface for both of the twins.  Phylicia can’t help but sense that something is awry when mystery teen, Pharrah, shows up on her door step.  Phoebe’s jealousy overcomes her to the point where all she can do is think of how she can have the life her sister has, including her man, the Reverend Gary.

This selection has so many secrets and lies intertwined in the plot, I felt as if I was reading a soap opera.  The reality though is that some people do live soap opera lives.  Full of raw emotion that leaps from the pages, I found myself angry, empathetic and forgiving at one point or another with each of the main characters, Phoebe, Phylicia and Reverend Gary.  This story had me thinking about how families either come together or grow apart after experiencing the loss of a loved one.

I enjoyed this selection.  Just when I thought I had everything figured it, there was another twist.  The author held my attention and this was a fast read for me.  I recommend this selection to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced storyline that keeps you guessing.  Although drama-filled, the author does a good job with Biblical references, reminding readers that there is always a source to turn toward for help, God.  If you are interested in topics such as sibling rivalry, jealousy, competition, family turmoil, forgiveness and redemption, this will be a good read for you.

I would read another selection by Ms. Garrison.

Review by Tavares S. Carney

Gina Merritt struggles with being a single mother and her mental illness. She seeks relief by attending the Ash Wednesday service at her beloved church home. To her shock, the comfort she seeks comes in the form of a vivid vision, followed by blood flowing from her palms.

Anthony Priest is a journalist and a junkie. At rock bottom, he also seeks solace in church. He witnesses as Gina cries out in pain. Instinctly, Anthony reaches over to to touch Gina. As soon as he touches her, he instantly feels healed from his addiction. Gina takes off, clearly frightened and confused.  Wanting to find out what happened, Anthony pursues her.  Together,  they seek to understand how a Protestant African-American woman could experience the stigmata. An extraordinary love story develops between two very different people.

I’m a huge fan of Claudia Mair Burney’s novels. Wounded is probably her most literary work. While full of passion, it’s not a typical romance novel, which I really liked. It’s well researched and digs deep into Catholicism. The storyline also has several characters sharing their points of view. Claudia touches upon interracial love in this novel, which is something she does in many of her novels.

This is not a novel you would speed read through. The novel’s ending was shrouded in a bit of mystery, but I enjoyed having a reading experience that stretched my imagination.

Reviewed by Tyora Moody

Denise Hightower has been married to Pastor Bryce Hightower for over three years. She’s confident in his love for her and enjoys being by his side. That is until she finds out her husband and pastor has a secret addiction.

Being the First Lady, Denise already has to deal with scrutiny and in many ways protects her husband. She tries to pretend all is normal in front of the congregation, but  when the burden starts to get the best of Denise, her self-esteem plummets. As she moves farther away from Bryce, can their marriage survive?

Bryce on the other hand is struggling to overcome his problem. When someone in his congregation steps forward with a similar problem, he’s going to have to decide if he wants to come clean. If he does, his security in being  a minister could be lost. But what option does he have, when Denise isn’t willing to continue living a lie?

Pornography is one of those taboo topics the church sweeps under the rug like homosexuality and fornication. People are aware of church members and even pastors who have succumbed to sexual sins, but no wants to out anybody. What intense pressure it must be a shepherd of a flock with such a secret.

This is a novel that in no way male bashes, but provides a unique ministry opportunity for open dialogue not only those addicted to pornography, but other sins that are strongholds. I love how the author, Wanda B. Campbell, expertly weaves the root of the problem into the story.

I started this novel 10:00 at night with the thought I would read a few chapters each night until I finished it. Not! I read well past midnight and finished this novel off in under three hours.

Reviewed by Tyora Moody

Kevin Manning and his younger brother Jordan are new to Harriet Tubman Elementary School. A little shy, Kevin tries to go unnoticed on the first day at school. He’s successful at blending in until something upsets his six-year old brother, who is autistic, and only Kevin can calm his screams.

By the Grace of God by Keshia Dawn
Reviewed by Tavares S. Carney

Through Thick and Thin

In By the Grace of God, author Keshia Dawn introduces readers to Gracie Gregory, who just knew she had met her life mate in Dillian McNab. That was, until he unexplainably walks out of Gracie’s life. This is the one event that sets Gracie on an emotional roller coaster ride. Although Gracie has the support of her parents, her best friend, Kendra, and lifelong friend Marcus, to help her move on with her life, Gracie is unable to find the resolve to let go of her failed relationship with Dillian until she finds the answer to the burning question of “Why did he leave?”

Between the mounting demands of owning and operating a business, her complex relationship with her best friend, Kendra; rekindling a flame with her first love, Marcus; and having been dealt a heart-wrenching blow by her ex-fiancée, Gracie is under surmounting pressure. She finds herself in a web of vengeance, deception and sexual immorality that would seemingly leave the average person broke down, torn apart and left with nothing or no one. Readers will discover that it is “by the grace of God” that Gracie finds the strength to forgive, live and let live.

While reading By the Grace of God, I particularly enjoyed the fact that the author allowed her main character to be strong and independent, yet weak in ways that proved humanistic and realistic. The storyline progressed in a timely fashion for me and I found myself wanting to know what happened next. The ending was somewhat surprising for me, but it is people like Gracie that prove to be the way they are, only, by the grace of God.

I would definitely read another book by Keshia Dawn.

Reviewed by Tavares S. Carney