An Ordinary Woman

Title: An Ordinary Woman
Author: Donna Hill
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

I Do…Or Do I?

Love plus commitment divided by betrayal equals destruction, resulting in the one person that you least suspect being the very person that destroys your life.

Donna Hill, author extraordinaire and Essence Bestselling Author, has composed a “lesson to be learned” tale that shares the lives of three closely-knit friends whose lives are disrupted by one meaningless, yet hurtful act.

Lisa, the calm and conservative professor, comes from a very stable upbringing. In hopes of having her marriage to Ross emulate the loving and doting marriage that is shared between her mother and father, Lisa consumes herself with planning her life down to the minutest details. Ever since childhood, she has been a stickler for perfection and organization. Lisa, though, does not realize how her high expectations and detailed preparations are eating away at her husband’s ego. However, all the planning in the world couldn’t prepare Lisa for the event that was about to upset her world – the betrayal of her husband and best friend.

Asha, the footloose and fancy-free photographer, lives life to the fullest by living spontaneously. Although she appears to be happy and content on the outside, Asha is at a constant struggle within herself to find love and acceptance. As different as night and day, Asha and Lisa have remained the best of friends since childhood. Coming from a single parent, dysfunctional home, Asha finds comfort and affection in the close relationship that she shares with Lisa and Lisa’s family. Unknown to others, she secretly desires and admires Lisa’s life—devoted family, devoted husband, etc. Over the years, Asha has had numerous insignificant affairs and used many people in an attempt to fill a void of worthlessness that she experiences in her life and that she depicts in her photographs. But never had she imagined that Ross, her best friend’s husband, would be the object of her redemption.

And then there’s Ross. Ross, the architect and devoted soul mate, has always been the provider in his past relationships. However, when squared off against Lisa’s meticulous, take-charge attitude and having to face the reality of becoming unemployed within the first several months of being married, Ross starts to have doubts about his self-worth. He starts to question his ability to care for Lisa the way that he had care for his mother and sister. Eventually, his feelings of inadequacy lead him into the arms of another woman, one who made him feel needed, wanted—that woman being Asha.

This novel was a pleasant read with a poetic undertone. I would like to commend Ms. Hill on her ability to create flashback scenes that do not lose the reader or overshadow the story. Instead, the well-placed flashbacks contribute immensely to the strong character development, which helps to answer the readers’ questions as to why the characters reacted the way that they did to certain situations that were presented.

By no means is there anything “ordinary” about this “exceptional” novel and I anticipate the release of her next novel, In My Bedroom, scheduled for release in January 2004.

Donna would love to hear from you: writerdoh@aol.com

Also, for information on where to purchase this novel or any of Donna’s other releases, please visit her website at www.donnahill.com

Title: For Love and Grace
Author: Kendra Norman-Bellamy
Genre: Christian Fiction (Romance)

Can I Get An Amen!!!

Using her written words, Kendra Norman-Bellamy has proven that no matter how strong we stand in our faith, certain trials and tribulations will occur that will test our faith and rock our belief that we have confessed to the Lord. Using God’s written words, in the way that he intended for them to be used to overcome those trial and tribulations, is what results in a testimony, which is exactly what I consider this novel to be. For Love and Grace is a testimony of these friends’ steadfast faith and loyalty, which guided them through the most trying and difficult time their friendship has ever endured.

Dr. Gregory Dixon and Attorney Derrick Madison share a God-fearing and brotherly friendship. One day, however, their loyal friendship and steadfast faith is put to the test when Dr. Gregory Dixon is called upon to perform a lifesaving surgery on an accident victim—the same victim who was driving the other vehicle that claimed the life of Julia Madison, Derrick’s mother. While Derrick looks at Greg’s decision to perform the operation as a slap in the face, Greg looks at it as an act of fulfilling his duty and obligations as a doctor and child of God. Needless to say, the life-long friendship they once shared is no more.

Valuing their friendship, how can Greg convince the hatred-filled Derrick that he did the right thing by saving his patient’s life? More importantly, how will the fact that Greg has fallen in love with his patient (and the person that Derrick despises so much) further detriment their relationship? Most importantly, will their friendship be salvageable?

For Love and Grace is not your typical run of the mill, “holier than thou” Christian novel. Superbly written, this novel is a perfect example of a test of faith and a test of friendship. Kendra Norman-Bellamy does an excellent job at keeping the focus of Christianity at the core of this novel without being preachy and bogging the reader down with lectures. The witty dialogue shared between Ms. Lena (Greg’s mother) and Ms. Mattie (the mother of Greg’s newfound love) lightens the tone and is sure to spark moments of laughter from the reader.

For Love and Grace will stir moments of tears, chills, laughter and romance. This is a definite must-read for all, regardless of religious background and upbringing, and one novel that will have you screaming, “Is there a doctor in the house?” I highly anticipate the release of the sequel (Because of Grace, 2005) to this stellar novel and all future releases from this blessed and talented author.

The author welcomes all email: kendra_bellamy@hotmail.com

To purchase this novel, please visit the author’s website at www.knb-publications.com