Customer Reviews

The Best-Kept Secret

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

THE BEST-KEPT SECRET is the third book by Kimberla Roby featuring the infamous character, Reverend Curtis Black. In it, he is rebuilding his life - again, and hoping that the marriage to his newest wife, Charlotte, will succeed. He has left Chicago, and started a new church. The new church was a carefully planned endeavor; Curtis and Charlotte wrote the by-laws and hand selected the governing body with hopes of avoiding some of the power struggles he encountered in churches he pastored prior. Curtis has slowed down considerably, trading his womanizing role for that of a family man dedicated to raising his young son to the best of his ability. While on the surface things look great for him both professionally and on the home-front, things are not always as they seem. Curtis just may have met his match with his young wife, and add to that a healthy dose of betrayal, old skeletons and lots of conflict and you have a story that is sure to please.

Although I may not be anxious to see a fourth book featuring Curtis Black's character, I really enjoyed following his evolution from Casting the First Stone to THE BEST-KEPT SECRET. While the book could stand alone, knowing the history behind the various characters will make this a much more interesting read. My only real issue with this book was that I felt like a lot of the events that occurred in the story had happened before in an earlier book, just with different characters playing pivotol roles. This made the story less believable simply because it seemed unrealistic for Curtis to find himself amid such over-the-top, once-in-a-lifetime, dramatic events more than once. Still if any character would be swimming in drama, it would surely be Curtis Black, and because of that I still give the book an above average rating.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

In this third in the series involving pastor Curtis Black, there is drama of course, but not of his doing. Seems as if wife and first lady Charlotte has learned a few tricks of her own from her husband. Charlotte is involved in a red-hot affair with Aaron Malone--illustrious church member and most notably, her husband's best friend. Poor Curtis Black hasn't a clue...he just knows that his wife is less attentive and seems to be "tired" all of the time. Charlotte's unhappiness stems from the Reverend Black's paltry six-figure salary--why can't he earn more to keep her in the lifestyle to which she had become accustomed? So she seeks solace in the arms of Aaron Malone--that is, until the book publishers come calling. When a publishing house offers the good Reverend big bucks for the book that he has written, Charlotte does an aboutface--turning into the idea wife, and ending things with Aaron--or trying to. That's when Charlotte finds out what a true nutcase she has become involved with; and Aaron lets ALL of the cats out of the bag...not only to the good Reverend, but to all of the members of Deliverance Outreach. All Charlotte can do is pray.....!!!

Good follow up to the second novel...and judging by the ending, the saga doesn't end here. Stay tuned.......!



DYB

This was Mrs. Charlotte Simmons Black motto. She knew the kind of man Curtis was before she married him. She knew that he was the type of guy that messed around because he messed around with her when he was married to someone else. Now, before he has a chance cheat on her, she decided to beat him to the punch by not only messing around on him, but with his friend, the deacon of the church. Sounds familiar? Curtis did this same thing to his deacon in the first book, Casting The First Stone. He messed around on his deacon's wife and finally drove that woman to insanity, which by the way was outrageous the way it ended. Imagine walking into a church with thousands of people and getting close enough to the pulpit to shoot the preacher. Not very realistic. Large churches have too much security to prevent that. Nevertheless, that was in the 2nd book.

Most of the members read books 1 and 2, but this is the only book we've read as a newly formed bookclub. In our opinion, two thumbs up for giving Curtis a taste of his own medicine. However, BEST KEPT SECRET lacked that gripping, page-turning style writing. After a while, we didn't care what happened to Curtis or Charlotte.

We felt this was an average read with no major twists and turns.

AfterWords Book Club
Omaha, Nebraska Chapter

This book is a complete dis to the church, and a poor example to show to non-believers. Sure, ministers are human and make mistakes. The problem with this book is that it deals with a minister that messes up, time after time, but does not turn to Jesus for forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation. Although this is a work of fiction, if you are writing about a minister and a church, there should be something besides sin going on in the book.

Kimberla, your stories go right into the punchline, and nothing is kept a secret. This is so amazing and dramatic. You have really given me such an enlightment on your stories. I followed the path of your conscious in how well these stories are planned out, and for the patience and the long enduring focus of your work, you deserve a metal award for this book. You kept my attention span so well. I have taken this book with me to wherever I go, just because I thought I would miss the best part. I have read your book for 3 to 4 hours straight, early in the morning about 2:00 A.M. I really enjoyed a book that had a serious moral to it and not just sex. You my dear, have done it again. Bravo!!!! The best kept secret is that she lied about the baby, but guess what? So did he lie about being with her only. She got what she wanted and definitely he got what he wanted. And they are still not happy by the lies that they have to face with God in the end. God bless you Kimberla, and continue another part to this sequel.

I've read all of Kimberly's books that deal with Reverend Curtis Black. I haven't enjoyed any of them but wanted to at least give this one as try.

In my opinion his character is demeaning to other ministers in that he never repents. He changed the way he lived, but Curtis' heart doesn't ever seem to change.

He will only do what gets him what he wants.

I have read all of the Curtis Black series and I have to say that Kimberla really outdid herself with this latest sequel. Normally, I don't write reviews for famous authors for fear of my words being lost in the shuffle of so many others. But.... I have to say this story reminded me of a good soap opera. Drama drama everywhere! Curtis finally gets a taste of his own medicine in more ways than one. The Best-Kept Secret is remarkably entertaining, and a definite page turner. I finished it of course in one day.

Kimberla Lawson Roby is no doubt a fantanstic storyteller. I started with her last book first, and then, worked my way backwards. Curtis Black's character is rather interesting, and Kimberla keeps her readers wanting to follow his every move. Like others, I hope she continues this story for as long as she can. I'm interested in finding out what is going to transpire next? Based on the ending of The Best Kept Secret, is Curtis Black planning to go back to the man he was before? If so, the next book is bound to be a nail biter. Can't wait.

I have kept up with Curtis Black and now I am done. I read this book a while ago but for some reason felt compelled to write a review.

Curtis is back to his old ways and tricks. Having moved to yet another city to start over again, his wife has grown tired. When you do wrong it comes back to bite you, TENFOLD. Curtis is getting back everything he has done to any woman in his past thanks to his wife, Charlotte. Can Curtis keep his wife from growing tired and restless of being a pastor's wife? Can Curtis keep his wife, period? How long can Curtis keep being a "saint'? For some reason I feel that this saga is going to keep going on and on.

I just cant get enough of Pastor Black and his ways. I have a feeling another story is coming soon. I cant wait!