Real Life. Emotional. Heartfelt.
What an amazing story this was--and so powerful--even in its humor and romanticism. I was touched deeply by Ms. Jones' approach to such a delicate and sensitive subject. Her talent really shone through here, and I could not be more proud of the way she handled such a prevalent disease that affects so many lives today. My mother was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at 48-years old. She went through the chemo, the radiation, and had a mastectomy. Two years after her diagnosis, the cancer was back, had spread aggressively, and our family lost her at only 50-years old. That was 10 years ago, but the devastating effects of this disease is still felt as strongly today as the day we lost her.
Memories of my mother was most likely one of the main reasons why I was so drawn to the heroine of this story. I could see how they shared some of the same qualities and characteristics. Evangeline aka Eva, was such a powerhouse. Think Carl Carlton's "She's a Bad MamaJama!"🎶 LOL! Eva was beautiful, sultry, and confident. She didn't allow anyone to control her or tell her what she should, or shouldn't do. She refused to cower, bend, or break. Eva's self-assurance and strength was admirable; especially when she's given some life-altering news. In the moments where Eva felt like she wanted to breakdown, I felt her pain and wanted to reach through the words on these pages and hug her--to offer her some type of encouragement. I also loved the softer side of Eva as well. Those moments sprang forth in her admiration of Mama Georgia (the hero's grandmother) and in restoring the vineyard (the hero's legacy), and especially in her interactions with the hero himself--Luke. And that Luke--how amazing was he right?! For him, you should reference Salt-n-Pepa's "Whatta Man," because he was that and then some. His thoughtfulness, caring nature, and his sensitivity was refreshing and very much appreciated. It was nice having a hero not afraid to reveal all parts of himself; even the parts that have also endured such devastating loss and pain. He and Eva together were amazing, and I adored the openness and honesty of their relationship. Their connection, their chemistry was everything.
If there's any reader out there who does not run through a whole gambit of emotions after reading this story, I may need to check your pulse to see if you're breathing. I was either in stitches from laughter, or in tears from sadness, hurt, and anger. I also felt an enormous amount of joy, happiness and... relief. I'm not ashamed to admit that for a while there, that blanket of sadness almost consumed me. I was so captivated by this book, and ended it feeling so emotionally spent. That's how a reader knows that an author has done their job and presented their best work. And on top of all that, this author truly made me fall in love with all of these characters; to feel that they were my friends, my family. I was so in tuned with their feelings, their hopes, and their desires. It shouldn't come as no surprise though, because we are definitely talking about the one and the only Christina C. Jones, aka the Master Storyteller . There seems to be no limit to her creativity, or her ability to tell amazing, profound, and heartfelt stories that showcase beautiful black love.
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