what we're reading
September 2007
Living, breathing, lies by Gloria Mallette
Club Rating:
Orlando, FL
June 15, 2007
From Our Tongues A Lie Contrived
Gloria Mallette's latest offering, Living, Breathing Lies, is a family drama that illustrates the ill-fated after effects of abject lying and guarded deception. The Richards Family is headed by the bitter, selfish matriarch, Stephanie. She has been married to New York City firefighter, Lester, for years. They have an adopted niece, elementary school teacher, Nadirah Lewis, and older twin children, Les, a music producer, prodigal son of sorts and Lynn, an equally absentee daughter who lives in Bostonwith her husband and two children. While Stephanie is a heartless mother and evil aunt, Lester is the nicest, most devoted loving husband/father/ uncle/friend; and for years is the victim of Stephanie's biting tongue and no one understands why he tolerates her.
A household "accident" cripples Stephanie and she pounces on the opportunity to manipulate Nadirah into guilt-ridden servitude which lasts over seventeen years. When the proverbial "straw" eventually breaks Nadirah's back, she threatens to move away which sends Stephanie into a panic -- the fear of living alone is unimaginable. When a mysterious call to the school's principal implicates Nadirah in a sordid affair with one of the community center teenaged boys, her job is jeopardized and she immediately suspects Stephanie as the culprit. She enlists the help of Cousin Lynn to help deal with Stephanie. Unlike her mother, Lynn is compassionate and giving, going over and beyond by using her connections to allow Nadirah to board rent-free in a luxurious town home of a handsome and almost-divorced Austin Gray and even volunteering to stick around for a few days to find the truth behind the false accusation. Needless to say that once the string is pulled, the ball of lies begins to unravel and many, many more secrets are revealed including a few surrounding Austin's marriage, Aunt Stephanie's angst, Uncle Lester's devotion, and even Lynn's fear.
Living, Breathing Lies has sparks of romance (one coupling is truly surprising), elements of mystery/suspense that lead to a few surprises, and enough drama to rival any daytime soap opera. While I was a bit disappointed with her last offering, If There Be Pain, I truly enjoyed this novel as a light, entertaining summer read. I think the author's longtime fans will be pleased.
APOOO BookClub
===========================
what we've read in 2007
January 2007
God Don't Play by Mary Monroe
Club Rating: 4
From Booklist
In this third book in the story line from God Don't Like Ugly (2000) to God Still Don't Like Ugly (2003), Annette Goode and Rhoda -Nelson-O'Toole are still best friends. For the first time in her life, Annette is content and happy in her marriage to childhood friend Pee Wee Davis. They live very comfortably and have a nine-year old daughter, Charlotte. Annette's recent promotion to supervisor at the collection agency has been a source of gossip. Rhoda and Otis are still married but live very separate lives. They stay together for the sake of their teenage daughter, Jade. Annette loves Jade like her own daughter but is manipulated into allowing her to behave and participate in activities that are inappropriate. When Annette begins receiving threatening notes, phone calls, and packages, Rhoda and Jade become very protective of her feelings and safety. The person torturing also has Annette questioning and confronting Pee Wee about his fidelity. When Annette is forced to fight for her sanity, family, and safety, her relationship with Rhoda and Jade is forever changed. Lillian Lewis===========================
february 2007
Further than i meant to go, longer than i meant to stay by Tiffany L. Warren
Club Rating: 3.8
Jennifer Coissiere
Georgia
January 12, 2007
Listen to Him
Can everyone in your life truly know what is best for you? Does marriage make you who you should be? Do you think that there are times when God is trying to tell you something? In Tiffany L. Warren's Farther than I Meant to Go Longer than I Meant to Stay everyone thinks they know what is best for Charmayne Ellis.
Charmayne Ellis is 36 years old, a virgin, a full figured woman, who is the president of Grace Savings and Loans. From her mother to her church sisters, they all believe that she needs a husband to complete her. Lynette, her best friend, tries setting her up with a man that she believes is compatible with her size. Then there is her younger sister Dayna, who feels she has to be in competition with Charmayne at all times.
When Charmayne stands up for herself against Lynette, Dayna, and partically everyone else's "validation came with marriage" speeches, she allows her vision to get clouded. Then a mystery man, Travis Moon, walks into her life. He had a history which always seemed to bring a surprise for Charmayne. They both believe that God put them together, but did He really? Charmayne could not tell if God was trying to tell her something or was she just nervous because she had never been in love before? Should she listen to the signs or can she do it all by herself?
This is a well written book that I would recommend to a reader that is suffering from low self-esteem or a reader that is trying to find love too quickly because of the pressures that they feel around them. It would be a good read for people who also think they hear the voice of God talking to them.
Apooo BookClub===========================
march/april 2007
Forgivin' Ain't Forgettin' by Mata Elliott
Club Rating: 3.5
Karen Lemmons
Detroit, Michigan
August 12, 2006
Let Go and Let God
"If we release the pain of our past to God, He will give us the strength to recall our past without experiencing the anger or depression that was once associated with it." So says a wise woman to Cassidy, who has been keeping a secret for many years. A secret that affects her mental and physical well-being, as well as her relationship with Trevor. Trevor, a widower with two children, has his own secret, too. When Trevor meets Cassidy, he falls in love with her, and he does reveal his secret and releases his pain. However, all the love that Trevor has for Cassidy does not help Cassidy reveal and release her pain. Cassidy cannot do that which she needs to do--forgive others and ultimately, herself.
Elliott writes an engaging and emotional story on the difficulty of forgiving and forgetting. Cassidy's and Trevor's secrets are real and believable. Their difficulty to forgive and forget is very real. Other characters in the story add to the credibility and reality of the story. For example, the pastor and his wife are very sincere and caring folks who really try to counsel and help their members. Lena, Dunbar, and other long-term friends are just as sincere and caring. The women who want Trevor behave like women who will do just about anything to get a man. The events and plot in the story are well developed. However, for those of you who like action-driven stories instead of character-driven stories you may think Elliott drags the pacing of the story. For those of you who like character-driven stories, you will appreciate the character development. Elliott's effective use of the omniscient point of view gives us both Trevor's and Cassidy's thoughts and feelings, helping the reader identify with and understand their perspectives. The prayers and scriptures are appropriate and integrated well in the story. The Bible gives us many stories and scriptures to help us let go and let God. Elliott writes a good story that will help you, too.Apooo BookClub
===============================
may 2007
The first lady by Carl Weber
Club Rating: 3.6
T. J. Lothery
Austin, TX
March 28, 2007
We All Want A "Love" Letter, Right?Carl Weber takes us yet again on the journey through his literal mind, this time from the point-of-view of a voice from above. That voice is Charlene Wilson, the deceased First Lady of First Jamaica Ministries. With the help of one of her closest friends, Alison, she sets out to choose the next First Lady for her husband, Bishop T.K. Wilson, after she is gone.
Through a series of secret letters, she manipulates the lives of her husband and four women, who are vying for the attention of the newly singled Pastor Wilson. First there is Marlene, T.K.'s high school sweetheart and mother of his first child, Tanisha. Marlene has battled her own demons and maybe as a pastor's wife she will find the peace and relief she needs. There is Monique Johnson, an unlikely choice since she is well known for her short tight dresses at Sunday services and her rumored trysts with various men in the church. Someone who would be considered the complete opposite of Sister Johnson is Savannah, the quiet, mousy, yet attractive choir soloist, who is also the daughter of a prominent church elder. Savannah has a beautiful singing voice yet is having a hard time using that voice when it comes to expressing her own needs and dreams. Finally, there is Sister Lisa Mae Johnson who seems the most suitable choice. Lisa Mae is the widow of a pastor and has been thinking that it is time to get back into the dating scene and Pastor Wilson would be just perfect.
The last player in this unknown game of manipulation is Pastor T.K. Wilson. T.K. is a real man who comes from a real past and seems to be the last to know that it is time for him to marry again. Unfortunately, the one person who could give him trusted advice is now gone.
Watching the stories of each person unfold in this web of "love" makes you think about what really motivates the decisions and actions of people around you and how simple words can changes your destiny.
This page-turner takes you on a journey through a myriad of characters that sometimes becomes uncomfortable, makes you rejoice and even cry. You come to realize that underneath the "cloth" the Pastor is just a man without a clue at times.
As the story nears the end, you find yourself silently rooting for the most unseemly characters to capture the love of the Bishop's heart. As the true nature of some come out, you truly start to make an internal checklist of your own motivations in life.
Carl Weber has yet another literary hit on his hands with this tale of letters, love and church politics.
APOOO BookClub===========================
June 2007
Apple Brown Betty by Phillip Thomas Duck
Club Rating: 3.8
Book Description
Freelance magazine writer Cydney Williams is excited to review a new restaurant that's helping to revitalize her hardscrabble New Jersey hometown, especially when she meets the owner. Restaurateur Desmond Rucker is as delicious and seductive as the rich desserts created in his kitchen, and the instant connection between them feels right and real. Too bad not everyone is happy about it.
Cydney has worked hard to get ahead at college and at her job, but she's worked hardest of all to keep her family from shattering what she's so carefully built. Cydney loves her Momma, no question, but watching the once beautiful and vibrant Nan Williams sink deeper and deeper into addiction is more than she can bear.
Cydney's brother, Shammond Slay, is another story. Handsome, charismatic Shammond was once a promising athlete. Now he's living a lavish lifestyle with no visible means of support…and whatever is behind it can't be legal. To Cydney, her brother is two different people: protective, generous Shammond, and destructive street-thug Slay. Like Cydney, he's a damaged soul, but unlike his sister, he's not willing to let go of his bitterness, or his family. And now, with everything Cydney cares about on the line, she'll have to face secrets, betrayals and the consequences of her own choices before she can claim the new life and sweet love she's always wanted.....................
===========================
July/august 2007
Scandalous by ReChella
Club Rating:
Book Description
A Story Of Erotica, Deception, And Drama
Charles is a small-town deacon with a keen sexual hunger for "pretty young women." After four marriages and countless affairs---including one with his sister-in-law---he still has no intention of slowing down. But when he starts seeing and hearing some strange things, it's nothing but trouble. Someone knows all his dirty little secrets and threatens horrible revenge is coming his way if he doesn't change. Even though his newest wife is "the jealous type" and his sordid business is being spread all over town, Charles still manages to creep out on the down low. But one vision that seems a little too real will force him to either get right or suffer the everlasting consequences of his actions.
