The Best of Everything (Hardcover)

by Kimberla Lawson Roby (Author)
Key Phrases: comforter set, Mom Katherine, Miss Thelma, Deliverance Outreach (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Roby's disappointing sixth entry in her Rev. Curtis Black series (after 2008s Sin No More) focuses on Alicia Black Sullivan, his beautiful and spoiled 22-year-old daughter. Accustomed to getting anything she wants, Alicia shops like daddy still picks up the tab. This is a source of endless agitation for her new husband, young pastor Phillip Sullivan, a genuinely good man. Though he tries to set limits, Alicia stubbornly plows forward, and her self-centered ways result in deceit, infidelity and, finally, divorce. Unsurprisingly, Alicia learns nothing from her tragedy except that she should strive to marry a wealthier man. Robys message of Christian forgiveness, a common theme in her work, doesn't succeed here: characters tolerate situations until they become untenable and then walk away. Alicias selfish behavior is alienating, and her unwillingness or inability to learn from her mistakes leaves readers wondering why they should care at all. (Feb.)
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From Booklist
Alicia has chosen to follow in the scandalous footsteps of her father, the womanizing spendthrift Reverend Curtis Black. Newly married to her father’s protégé, she routinely covers her shopping addiction by lying about her activities, and events rapidly escalate when she is robbed the same day several credit card statements arrive in the mail and her husband confronts her. In response, Alicia not only perversely spends even more, she also embarks on an affair with a drug lord. Refusing to admit that her marriage is in jeopardy, this reverend’s daughter behaves like a spoiled child rather than a responsible married woman living by the tenets of her faith. Roby’s thought-provoking novel continues the Reverend Curtis Black series (Too Much of a Good Thing, 2004) with the second generation’s mistakes. As was the case with her father, Alicia still has far to go to become an admirable character, so watch for at least one sequel if not more. --Lynne Welch

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (January 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061443069
• ISBN-13: 978-0061443060
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,746 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A weak OK, January 19, 2009

By	Littlewalty "littlewalty" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

In the very beginning of the book, I knew I was in trouble when the author kept repeating the same thing over and over again. I would borrow the book. It was a very slow read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent Read, But LOTS of Repetition!, January 19, 2009

By	Mommabookworm "Mommabookworm" (Ca.) - See all my reviews

Alicia is a shopaholic. Chapter one, she shops alot. Chapter 2 she shops more. Chapter 3 she's still shopping. Ok, we get it. Now we have big debt, and hubby is mad. More chapters, more debt more arguments, zzzzz. There is so much repetition in this book it is distracting. The first in this series of books was really good. I think the author has lost her edge in coming up with an interesting enough story line to continue with these characters. She needs to move on and create a new story line.

I wouldn't buy this book. Get it from the library for free. I read it in a day.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as the others, but still enjoyable, January 13, 2009

By	LessieMae (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Well, I just finished reading the book, and as an avid Roby fan, I will say that it's not the best book in the Curtis Black series, but it still has the usual mix of surprises, drama, and scandal. What I enjoy so much about Roby's books is that at least once during the reading of each novel, I ask myself if this is her personal story. I also can usually predict one of the suprises in the book, and I was able to do that with this one as well. All in all it is a good, fast read, and I am looking forward to the next book. There will be another one...