A video review of An Inconvenient Friend

The Deal, The Dance and The Devil by Victoria Christopher Murray

What would you do for $5 million dollars...



Available wherever books are sold on Tuesday, June 7th and online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNobles.com.

Who Said It Would Be Easy? by Cheryl Faye

About the Book

Who Said It Would Be Easy? is the story of a man and woman who rely on their faith in God to live and love, despite formidable trials and tragedy.


Charisse Ellison is a beautiful twenty-nine-year-old single woman who is new to her faith, but convinced that her relationship with God is the only way to have the truly fulfilling life she desires—one that includes a husband and children.

Stefàn Cooper is a thirty-three-year-old bachelor who has no desire to change his ways. Tall, muscular, and strikingly handsome, Stefàn is used to getting what he wants from the opposite sex but is intrigued by Charisse’s seeming indifference to his charms. The couple’s intense romance leads them on a journey that challenges the bravado Stefàn has held on to for most of his adult life and forces Charisse to see that God’s answered prayers don’t always come packaged the way we expect.

Who Said It Would Be Easy? is a story that offers hope in situations that, at first seem hopeless, and shows that through faith in an all-powerful God, even the most painful experiences can culminate in true joy and peace.

Book Review

Who Said It Would Be Easy is Cheryl Faye's first foray in to Christian Fiction. Cheryl Faye introduces you a true Christian Romance novel without the usual steamy scenes and explicit language.

Stefan Cooper is a man with many flaws and hang-ups. He experiences heartbreak at a young age which colors all relationships afterwards. His heartbreak drives him from finding the love of his life and from God. Charrise Ellison is new to her Christian walk. She longs to be married but is willing to wait until God gives her the one. Charrise and Stefan meet and find an instant attraction but they are in different places in their Christian faith. Together they learn a lot about each other, first impressions and they grow in their Christian belief.

This book takes you through their journey of love, faith, trials and tribulations. Cheryl Faye also introduces you to minor characters who go through their own transformations to become all that God has planned for them to become.

I enjoyed this book, it gives you everything you would want from a romance novel but it also gives you more. It is a true love story, the love between two people and their love for God. Who Said It Would Be Easy? shows that when you are walking in your faith even when it seem hard and hopeless your love for and faith in God will prevail. I would recommend this book to all that enjoys romance novels and Christian fiction. It is a perfect blend between the two.

Reviewed by Janette Malcolm

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purposes of review.

This novel is available wherever books are sold and online at Amazon.com and other online retailers.

The Last Temptation by Michelle Stimpson

The Last Temptation

by

Michelle Stimpson

About the Book

Sensible single mother Patricia "Peaches" Miller isn't about to follow in her mama's footsteps and become dependent on a man--no, that would be too easy. But when she doesn't see eye to eye with the man she wants to marry, she knows that returning to a life of girls' nights out, retail therapy, and chocolate peanut clusters just won't do for her. Then Raphael, her son's father, steps back into the picture--and makes it clear that his attraction to Peaches is stronger than ever. There's just one problem. Raphael has already pledged his heart to another woman.

Peaches has been praying for a perfect family for a long time. Deep down she knows this can't be God's idea of an answer--but can you blame a girl for hoping? Now, as she battles with temptation, and with her faith, she's not sure which will win. . .

Book Review

Being a lover of Christian Fiction, I was elated to learn of Michelle Stimpson’s latest work. In The Last Temptation, we are reintroduced to Peaches Miller and several other characters from her debut novel, Boaz Brown.


Peaches is a single mother, living a God-led life, is engaged to Quinn, who is also living a God-led life. Conflict comes to the couple when Quinn accepts a job in another state without the benefit of consulting with Peaches. This decision sends their relationship into a tailspin, as Peaches feels that such a decision should have been discussed with her, and Quinn feels that he made the right choice because his decision is one that will make their lives better. He indicates that he is going to wear the “biblical pants” in their marriage.

Ms. Stimpson does an excellent job weaving the characters together and telling their story. The characters and their relationships are well defined and the story is easy to follow. She shows us, through the characters, what can happen when we attempt to handle things and solve problems on our own, instead of allowing ourselves to be led by God.

I truly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it to readers of any genre, not just Christian fiction. Ms. Stimpson did not disappoint with this one.

Reviewed by Deniece Shelman

Book Review - Soon After

Soon After, is Sherryle Kiser Jackson’s follow up novel to Soon and Very Soon. Soon After picks up where Soon and Very Soon ends. Even though this was a follow-up novel, I was able to read it and follow the storyline without the benefit of having read Soon and Very Soon. The story picks up after the destructive fire at Harvest Baptist Church, and reporter, Alexis Montgomery is determined to get to the real cause of the fire. Ms. Jackson did an excellent job telling the story without one having to wonder what happened in the first book. Soon After gives us a gives us a glimpse into the lives of Pastors Willie and Vanessa Green. Their lives are full of twists and turns. I hope Ms. Jackson bring Willie and Vanessa back for another installment of this series. This is a must read, and you will not be disappointed.

Readers my learn more about Sherryle K. Jackson and her books at http://www.sherrylejackson.com/ or View the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/SoonAfterTour.

Reviewed by Deneice Shelman.

About the Reviewer

Deniece Shelman is a member of SistahFriend Book Club and the Site Leader for the Greenwood, SC branch of the club. She is married and has three children. To learn more about SistahFriends visit their site at http://sistahfriends.com/

A copy of this book was provided by the author for the review purposes.

Holy Rollers by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

About the Book

LOOKING FOR LOVE...

Lifelong friends Coco, Nita, and Audra have spent years looking for love in the arms of flashy pro athletes, hoping to land a baller but ending up with a stream of failed relationships. The beautiful and demure Coco has endured years of physical abuse from her boyfriend, Sonny, while Audra, a single mother, has dated her fair share of cheaters and yearns for a stable companion who will be a father figure to her son. And feisty, seductive Nita is tired of being the million dollar mistress and wants to settle down—if she can find someone worth coming home to.

CHANGING THE GAME...

Now that the women are approaching thirty, they're finding it harder than ever to compete with the pro groupies. Determined to change the game and find some worthwhile men, Audra hatches an outrageous plan. Soon the trio is “holy rolling,” masquerading as God-fearing churchgoers at a local conference for young ministers in the hopes of snagging a prominent pastor. But will their big gamble pay off? Men of the cloth are still just men, after all. As the three friends meet their potential life partners, they will have to decide how far they want to take their holy rollers scheme—each risking heartbreak while taking a chance on finding a reliable, responsible man to love and cherish, flaws and all.

My Review

Get ready for a ride! That’s what I felt I was on as I read this novel and took the journey with these characters.

ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s books just keep getting better and better. I loved her last three novels. The Pastor’s Wife, Can I Get a Witness and The Devil is a Lie were all extremely entertaining, but this book was just the best. For this reviewer, I think it was because the novel addressed issues that are near and dear to me – women wasting themselves on no good men and women who have a good man and “can’t” and “won’t” keep him! Jeez, enough of it already.  I picked up a subtle message about pre-marital sex in the story as well.  Those who were giving the milk away just got milked.

Holy Rollers is a fresh, original story. Seriously, pro-athlete groupies who restructure their game plan – reminds me of change management class I took in grad school.  The story was great. I loved the character CoCo, felt sorry for that poor pitiful Audra and patiently waited for Nita to ______ , well, I won’t give it away. The women were realistic, each one representing some woman I know or have know, or dare I admit, have been. LOL.  (In a past life of course.) It was a fun read. ReShonda was on her game, using her talent for making her readers laugh out loud. Don’t pass this by, it’s at the top of my list of great summer reads and a book I recommend for women of all ages.

Reviewed by Rhonda McKnight

Click here to read an Excerpt and here to find out about ReShonda's cool contest for Book Clubs!

You can sign up for ReShonda's newsletter and learn more about her at www.reshondatatebillingsley.com

Reviewed by Rhonda McKnight

An Advance Review Copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Book Review - LOSING MY COOL by Thomas Chatteron Williams

Book Review: It's Not Just Music 

I believe in the first amendment right to freedom of expression. As an artist myself, I don’t want to be told what to write, or how to share my gift, but I do makes choices about my writing based on what I believe is my social responsibility;  that is write well and don’t write about trash. After-all, literature is forever.  As is its counterpart, music.

Music has always impacted culture. It is an expected reality. Young rockers who perhaps got caught up in sex, drugs and rock and roll were impacted by music, as were the flower children of the seventies. There are countless more examples. In my opinion there was very little danger in the music of the past, because most enjoyed the music and were able to resist the lure of any negative lyrics. The listeners simply grew up. The issue with respect to hip hop is the vulnerability of the African-American population. There’s evidence that listeners are not passing through and simply growing up. Hip-hop is an opiate that’s destroying the vulnerable young people who listen to. The message in most of the music devalues women, work ethic and basic sensibility, so we’re in trouble.  The music convincingly declares that we’re no one unless they have the gold, the car and the girl, so we’re in trouble.

I reviewed this book from the parent’s perspective as I am not an expert on Hip-Hop Culture. As a parent I do know our young people are in crisis. I live in the suburbs and it has long concerned me that my generation will be the first African-American generation whose children that will be less successful and less educated than their parents. Emails from the high school principal and counselors that beg parents to care that their children are failing ninth grade English is a scary thing. Failing –English? Their MP3 players are full of music by artist who are struggling to take command of the language themselves.  I’ll end my rant here.

 This book couldn’t have had a better title and probably could not have been introduced at a better time. The cultural war is on and those leading in the trenches need to know that they can win the battle in their own home. In the Williams home, 15,000 books and a father’s love did it. Each parent must determine what will be their weapon.

The Williams Family’s brave effort at cultural sustainability is to be admired. I highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Rhonda McKnight

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Please see my interview with the author dated by clicking here.