Before Redemption (Urban Christian) [Paperback]

Teresa McClain-Watson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2009 | Series: Urban Christian

After a night of passion with bad boy Detroit nightclub owner Dino Cochran, Nikki Lucas finds herself young, pregnant, and deeply in love. But when she discovers that the man of her dreams is married, she is devastated and leaves Detroit without looking back. Sixteen years later, Nikki lives in Monroe, Florida, a struggling single parent of a rebellious teenage son. She is also the owner of an equally struggling diner. Although her friends urge her to give her life to Christ, she is too steeped in bitterness over the harsh hand life has dealt her to believe that salvation will make any difference. Dino Cochran, who suffered through his own horrors when Nikki left Detroit, arrives in town, not as the bad boy nightclub owner he used to be, but as the Christian head of the National Council of Churches. When he and Nikki meet by chance for the first time in sixteen years, Nikki's world turns upside down. Her son believed that his father was dead, and Dino never knew that he had a son, and now Nikki is terrified that both will hate her when they find out the truth.

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: Urban Books; 1 edition (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601629893
• ISBN-13: 978-1601629890
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,244,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Teresa McClain-Watson is the award winning author of over nineteen novels. She has been a magazine editor-in-chief, executive book editor, protective investigator, and counselor. She resides in Florida with her husband and her cat.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Whew! From Gangster to Prophet..., April 28, 2009

By 

L. Bishop - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before Redemption (Urban Christian) (Paperback)

Before Redemption is a VERY engaging story. It reminds me of the story of Saul who became Paul. As Paul received Jesus' forgiveness of his sins, he was able to boldly state "I have killed/wronged No Man."

This story centers around Dino and Nikki. Dino a club owner/gangster and Nikki (who was abandoned at the tender age of 13) a self-proclaimed business woman selling tapes on the street corner. For whatever reason, Dino developed a "soft spot" for Nikki and feels responsible for her well-being and Nikki has a "school girls' crush on the handsome club owner. Sounds like the beginnings of a beautiful relationship - right? Not!

Life isn't that easy; Dino is married with a child on the way and war has been declared when Dino's club becomes a target of gunfire. Losing everything dear to him (and I mean everything), Dino is set on revenge and settling the score. Just when Dino is about to do some things that will take him to a point of no return - GOD SHOWS UP! Not only does God show up but things REALLY get interesting as you see the transformation from Gangster to Prophet.

As for Nikki, she runs away and takes with her a secret. Feeling like no one has ever loved her and that "church" folks are hypocrites, Nikki is determined to not have to rely on anyone other than herself.

Sixteen years later, the two cross paths again. What in the world is God up to? Yummy, yummy, yummy. Don't you know that 16 years to God is a second out of a day? God has a plan for these two strong willed, broken individuals and its a ride you won't soon forget!

This story has it all, murder, guilt, lies, deception, anger, fear, sex, and "church folks" hee, hee, hee! I found myself seriously multi-tasking, i.e., vacumming and reading, washing the dishes and reading and just plain 'ole sitting on my bum and reading. I could not put this book down. There is a part where it became a bit redundant (how good can a person be?) or should I say "over the top", thus my four-star rating, but when I completed the story (purchased Friday evening and done on Sunday), I was heart broken.

Buy It!!!!!!!!!! You will truly get a natural high and thirst for more.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Redeemed, June 15, 2009

By 

ASmoothJazzReader (Little Rock, AR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Before Redemption (Urban Christian) (Paperback)

For whatever reason, businessman, gangster Dino Cochran was always protective of eighteen year old Nikki Lucas when she was selling tapes outside of his nightclub. Nikki had such a crush on Dino that it led to a one night stand with the married bad-boy.

Dino having suffered through the deaths of his pregnant wife and friend found himself near the breaking point when the corner preacher, Billy Graham saves him from a true life of crime.

After sixteen years, Dino is now Bishop Walter Dean Cochran and Nikki now living in Florida with her sixteen year old son cross paths when Dino has to vist one of his churches in the Florida city of Monroe. Divine intervention or what?

Nikki's son is accused of murder and as in the past, Dino is there to provide help to her while standing up to church members that don't want to accept the changes he is making. Although, having turned his life around Dino still has some "rough around the edges" ways when it comes to having to deal with Nikki and other characters in the story.

This was such a great read that I will surely make it a top recommendation for my book club and to readers looking for Christian romance with an urban twist.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this Book, May 11, 2009

By 

Jacob's Nana (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Before Redemption (Urban Christian) (Paperback)

I loved this book. Even though the female lead drove me a little crazy, I can understand her plight. To love someone for sixteen years and dedicate your life to him without his knowledge is just mind boggling. Nikki had been so used to doing things for herself for so long, that she never really wanted to accept help from anyone - even her son's father. Dino accepted Christ as his personal Savior after two major tragedies in his life and made that turn to do God's Will. It really was a very good book and I had a hard time putting it down, even while at work.