Customer Reviews

Balancing Destiny

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Destiny has mapped out her life. She'd always had an clear visual of what she wanted and where she wanted to go. On the day she is to finally move out of her parents home and begin this perfectly planned life she is dealt an life changing blow. She's adopted, and her parents never seemed to intend to tell her. Her perfectly planned life doesn't seem as important anymore, because she's wondering if it's what she wants or what she just thought was expected of her.

Destiny moves to New York with her cousin. She's hired to an small magazine and a job that is well below her creditials, while she's taking the opportunity to find her biological parents. At her new job she meets Anthony "Tony" who is immediately taken with her, but Destiny has a goal at the moment, and she also isn't too sure about dating a white man. Eventually she gives it a try, but she can't ignore the stares, the outbursts from her cousin, or the way the black community treats her. She also feels she can't take this relationship seriously herself, but she finds herself falling in love anyway, and that scares her even more.

She finally breaks it off with Tony after an altercation at a club that didn't feel the two should be "socializing". Although heartbroken, she continues her search for her parents, finding her father and finally her mother. She is shocked by what she finds in her lineage and not only that, an ironic twist comes into play that makes Destiny rethink her views on race and her reasoning for breaking up with a good man that actually loved her.

Mr. Derrios wrote a book that was full of characters with depth. His supporting characters were lightly placed and added to the story. It was a "drama" and "romance" all in one. His characters were likable and disliked, but they were human and you knew that their enviornments shaped their personalities. It was relistic in many ways and far fetched in another case, but it made for such good drama that you don't care. My only vice was the end of the book. The chapter should have been an Epilogue instead of an "fast forward". Also, I'm not into "drivel". Some women like it, but I'd soon read something else than wedding vows. Maybe I'll go back and read it, but I definitely enjoyed this book, immensely and hope much success to Mr. Derrios. I hope he doesn't let this be his only work. A great coming of age and finding one's place story.

I could scarely believe this was author Michael Derrios's first book. It was sensusal, moving, romantic and thoroughly enjoyable. I love reading WM/BW interracial romances. There is just not enough of them. Mr. Derrios creates the characters, Tony, who is Italian and African-American Destiny as two strong people. They encounter all the pitfalls, highs and lows of an interracial couple. The vows spoken by Destiny and Tony pulled at my heart strings. I can't wait for the next one! I am telling you people this author has the sensitivity and knows how to use his pen just like author Nicholas Sparks.

I am not going to rehash the synopsis, but I will only share my feelings. I was so excited to read this book. My library system does not have it in circulation, so I ended up purchasing it from here. I was extrememly underwhelmed by the story. I read many IR tales, but this is by far in the top 5 heavy-handed. At some point, it is nice to think you're just reading a story. Never the case with this book. I should have expected though after reading the author's acknowledgments. I didn't find a lot of depth in the story and most of it could be predicted.

This was one of the best interracial books that I have read this year! For a first time author, this story was phenominal! Great storyline Michael!

Balancing Destiny is a well-crafted romantic novel that held my attention from beginning to end. The characters are believable and the subplots are also nicely done and tied in well with the main story. The author does an excellent job of weaving the story of Destiny, who is profoundly affected by the truth of her past and Tony, who has to deal with the loss of a woman who is not ready to love him. The flow of the book is well paced and the reader will definitely not be disappointed. I look forward to the next novel by this author.

I'm glad that I purchased this book. The story was very well written and the author obviously has in-depth knowledge of interracial and familial relationships.

It was a relaxing, yet engaging read.

I stumbled on to this little gem after a friend read it and insisted that I do the same. I was instantly hooked! The story line grabs your attention almost immediately!!! The author does a magnificent job of adding a multitude of ethnical flavors to the pot. He offers you an intense glance into the lives of six uniquely different characters that are brought together unexpectedly. I have never read a book that was so capable of mixing romance, sensitive political subjects, triumph and defeat so well.

If you read E. Lynn Harris, YOU'LL LOVE MICHAEL DERRIOS!

This book is not romantic, I found it extremely boring and it has put me off reading any 'love story' written by men, they just can't write a good love story, sorry chaps.

Although the author's story idea is good, his attempt at writing was fair. For example, when Destiny and Tony shared their first kiss, the author never really stated that they kissed or even wrote about the reaction of the characters during the kiss. What he wrote was of Tony leaning in, and then, the next paragraph was of her telling her cousin about the kiss. I had to re-read the previous paragraphs to see if i had missed something.

I would not recommend this book to anyone. There were too many twists and turns that were improbable. I would say to the author that he should not quit his day job.

I read this book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. The writer draws you into the life of Destiny from the start. All her life Destiny has planned everything down to the last detail. On the eve of leaving home she finds some information that changes all her beliefs and plans. The book is the road of self discovery that Destiny takes to balance her life out. There is romance, tears and twists along the way to keep you going to the end.