March Reads

Color Me Butterfly by L.Y. Marlow was an intense book based on a true story. It was a great read, however, the pain experienced by these women and families seemed impalpable to me - but the reality is abuse happens. What I could not fathom is the women staying in these abusive relationships and the cycle continuing through 4 generations of women in Philly. I would like to believe I would be strong enough to leave to protect myself and my babies - but I guess you never know until you walk a mile in their shoes. I commend L.Y. Marlow for sharing her family's story and her devotion to bringing awareness to domestic violence through her organization Saving Promise.

I also read more kindle freebies this month. Sandra D. Bricker's Always the Baker, Never the Bride; Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride were cute reads - my favorite parts in both books were the beginning of the chapters where Bricker posted recipes and lots of wedding planning tips for her reader - right up my alley, huh?!

Erica recommended I read Red Tent by Anita Diamant. She told me it was one of her favorite books and I now know why. I loved how it examined the relationships mothers have with their children, namely their daughters. This quote from the book left me in deep reflection: If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and listen carefully. The more a daughter knows about her mother's life - without flinching or whining - the stronger the daughter.

This book transcends over decades and it is interesting to see another culture dealing with life happenings - one thing I do not like is how women used to defer to men, the head of household. I could not imagine living in a society where my voice/opinion did not matter when making decisions or being in a relationship where I had to first consult with a man before deciding if I can do something. Ironic some men are still controlling to this day and feel as though their women should consult with them before making decisions - it could be something as simple as going out with their friends. I could not deal with that type of relationship. Sheesh!

I Am Not Her by Janet Gurtler is classified as a teen book, but I think it is perfectly suitable for adults as well. It gives you the inside look and dynamics on how cancer effects not just the patient, but those closest to the person fighting the battle. Many people have dealt with it inadvertently - but you never really voice how you may be feeling because you think it is selfish or insignificant in comparison to the patient preparing themselves for the fight of their life. I highly recommend this book.

Carl Weber finally released a new book, The Family Business. He collaborated with Eric Pete (I never heard of him). This book was great - I am anxiously awaiting the sequel to be both written and released so I can see how everything unfolds with the Duncan family.

I didn't love Brenda Jackson's Private Arrangements as much as the other Steele family stories. I particularly didn't care for the editing mishaps - but there was something missing from the story line - definitely not a must read, but I found this line interesting as it can relate to where I am relationship wise in my life. Some women preferred peace and solitude to drama, solitude to unnecessary commotion. But more importantly, a loving relationship to a purely sexual one.

The Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky wasn't the best book - maybe because it angered me especially with everything which has come to light with the Trayvon Martin case. The truth of the matter is racism still exists and unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. An underlying issue in the book was in regards to whether you could truly love a child when you had issues with their mother or would you find the mother responsible for "issues" the child may encounter.

Francis Ray's With Just One Kiss was unsurprisingly a good, quick read. (I am now more anxious to read the final book of the Kiss series due to be released in July.) It touches on a sensitive topic I know a lot of people encounter, but they handle differently - doing what makes you happy vs. doing what you feel is your familial obligation - what if these two things do not align - then what? Are you selfish if you throw caution to the wind against your family's approval? And at the end of the day, why do so many of us crave that approval or is it that we all have this innate desire to make our family proud of our accomplishments? How can we bridge the gap?

Long Time Coming by Rochelle Alers is the first book in her Whitfield Bride series. The book was pleasurable enough that I have now added the other two to my reading list.

So there you have it - this month's 10 books, which takes my yearly total to 27.