Customer Reviews

Between Goodbyes

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

BETWEEN GOODBYES by Anita Bunkley is the stunning story of Afro-Cuban Niya Loundres, who escapes Cuba aboard a tiny vessel carrying Haitians to Florida. Vigilantes attack them right off the coast of Florida and she has to swim to shore with a gunshot wound to her chest. Her brother, Lorenzo, is missing. Niya is frightened, but pushes on anyway, in spite of her wound and the thick, thorny swamp she is in. She runs across Sandi Lee, a cook and waiter in her father's diner, who takes her in, and with the help of a Jamaican `healer', nurses Niya back to health.

Being an accomplished dancer and performer, Niya moves up quickly in the US, however, she is still distressed about the loss of her brother and she constantly worries about her mother back in Cuba. In her travels, she meets three wonderful men who immediately fall in love with her and want to marry her. Which one will she choose and how will she decide?

Anita Bunkley has spun a wonderful novel that includes life in Cuba as well as life in the US. The characters are so well- developed, I felt as if I knew them. It was well-written and the suspense continued until the last page. It is really a page turner and anyone, no matter your favorite genre, will find this a hard book to put down.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was like eating a full course meal and sighing at the end bcz it was sooo delicious!

I really liked Niya's character from the beginning bcz despite what had happened to her, she maintained a kind and gentle spirit. She also remained loyal to her mom and always believed they'd be reunited. All of the characters (Sandi Lee, Treemont, G-Daddy, Granger, Astin, Lorenzo) were well developed and fit perfectly within the story.

Bunkley's writing kept me glued to the pages anxious for the next event and each was as exciting as the one before.

You had the chance to watch Niya grew as a person and as a dancer. But she was a simple woman where family, love, and dancing were all she really wanted in life. Only the man who understood that could be her "true life partner".

For Treemont it was love/lust at first sight. Treemont was very stubborn, but when you learned why he handled money so poorly, you sympathized for what his childhood must have been like. But Treemont refused to listen ...

Granger loved Niya with a desperation that was fierce. With him she grew both professionally and sexually. But Granger had secrets . . .

Astin was like a fantasy. He understood Niya and wanted nothing more than to make her happy. He encouraged her to just "be herself". But Astin lacked backbone . . .

Read this novel to learn who Niya chose. Its a great read!!!

Excellent Read...I could not put this book down...It kept me wanting more.. Good story line, from beginning to finish!! Thank You Anita and keep up the good work.... looking forward to more good books to read in the future!!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was like eating a full course meal and sighing at the end bcz it was sooo delicious!

I really liked Niya's character from the beginning bcz despite what had happened to her, she maintained a kind and gentle spirit. She also remained loyal to her mom and always believed they'd be reunited. All of the characters (Sandi Lee, Treemont, G-Daddy, Granger, Astin, Lorenzo) were well developed and fit perfectly within the story.

Bunkley's writing kept me glued to the pages anxious for the next event and each was as exciting as the one before.

You had the chance to watch Niya grew as a person and as a dancer. But she was a simple woman where family, love, and dancing were all she really wanted in life. Only the man who understood that could be her "true life partner".

For Treemont it was love/lust at first sight. Treemont was very stubborn, but when you learned why he handled money so poorly, you sympathized for what his childhood must have been like. But Treemont refused to listen ...

Granger loved Niya with a desperation that was fierce. With him she grew both professionally and sexually. But Granger had secrets . . .

Astin was like a fantasy. He understood Niya and wanted nothing more than to make her happy. He encouraged her to just "be herself". But Astin lacked backbone . . .

Read this novel to learn who Niya chose. Its a great read!!!

What's a girl to do when she has three bidders for her heart? Exactly what the Cuban beauty, Niya, did . . . hire an investigator! Anita Bunkley has crafted a tale that will woo the hearts of romantics everywhere. Driven by her heritage, the love of her mother, and the search for her brother, Niya's desire to become a famous dancer mirrors that of many go-getter sistahs who stop at nothing to realize their dreams. Each courtship could function as a story of its own, but are skillfully woven into an intricate storyline that would leave you pleasantly surprised at the end. Though I have to admit that I was confused by the book cover; I felt it failed to represent Niya's character. Overall, Between Goodbyes is a touching, triumphant, and joyful read that is quite hard to put down.

4 1/2 Pink Diamonds
Sistah Tasha of the SistahFriend Book Club

I LOVED THIS BOOK...I TOOK ME ABOUT A WEEK TO READ IT..WHILE SITTING AT WORK. THE STORY WAS SO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER AFRICAN AMERICAN FICTION BOOK THAT I'VE READ. I LOVE TO READ ABOUT SUCCESSFUL BLACK WOMEN RATHER THAN WOMEN FROM THE PROJECTS WHO'S ONLY ASPIRATIONS IN LIFE ARE TO SCORE A DRUG DEALER WHO WILL EITHER GET LOCKED UP AT THE END OF THE BOOK OR BE KILLED. ANITA BUNKLEY IS A WONDERFUL AUTHOR!!!!!!!!!!!

Niya Londres--and her three loves--and her brother Lorenzo Londres take readers on a lyrical journey that starts in Cuba and ends in a lavish surprise wedding.

Readers should beware. Ms. Bunkley and the characters of "Between Goodbyes" will take you from warm nights in Cuba to cold winters in New York. Along the way we're introduced to Niya Lourdes a driven, talented dancer as she realizes her dreams and fights to find "true" love.

But don't be mistaken this is not a "love story." Every chapter takes the reader to new heights as Ms. Bunkley carefully reveals another level of each character. They deal with immigration issues, drug addiction, manipulation, heartbreak and more. You'll become invested in their success and heartbroken when life deals someone a rotten hand.

This book is a great read. And the twists and turns end in a dramatic, surprising fashion which left me floored. You won't regret buying this book.

When a brother and sister escaping Cuba together are attacked by a vigilante patrol, they are left badly wounded. In the confusion, they are separated --each not knowing if the other survived!

This marks the beginning of an exciting tale highlighting the experiences of immigrants coming to America in search of hope -- a hope for success and happiness that could never be fulfilled at home.

Niya and Lorenzo carry on in this new homeland, determined to make their mark in America. Anita Bunkley has tackled some interesting issues here, and her characters are good.

I look forward to hearing more from this new author.