Customer Reviews

Can I Get an Amen (Arabesque)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This anthology focuses on the lives and romances of four women from the same community of Red Oaks in Georgia. This in itself makes for a nice continuity that is not often found in anthologies. The reappearance of favorite characters, such as Mother Maybelle, from story to story is pleasant. The first of the stories was rather good. It moved at an enjoyable pace and had two compelling leads. The third was just okay. The last two stories were slow-moving and not very enjoyable, or realistic, in my opinion.

All of the stories are variations of the classic "boy-meets-girl" romance. However, in each of these stories one the characters is a member of the Red Oaks Community Church. As such there are christian influences infused throughout the anthology. Many of the relationships lead to both parties becoming involved in the church. This is not to suggest that this is a christian fiction book however. This is where some readers, including myself to a certain degree, will meet with disappointment. I would rather described this book as pure romance with christian and/or spiritual overtones. The title, bookcover, and synopses of the stories seem geared to reach a christian audience. However, the book is heavy on intimacy and it occurs both in and outside of traditional christian boundaries. This would be fine in a christian novel if used to teach a story, but often the christian role models in the anthology are involved in such behavior and speak of it openly as acceptable. This includes joking of such matters with bold humor with church mothers and the pastor's wife! I'm certain that this will not sit well with many picking up the book for a good, pure chrisian fiction experience.

Summarily, this is a nice romance anthology with chistian influences, but know that you are buying a classic romance collection with all the classic romance "bells and whistles". If you are a christian fiction purist, proceed with caution.

I have just finished my First anthology read. Unfortunately, it had to be a romance novel that left me with a bad taste. I didn't know what to make of this christian romance or should we just call it a romance novel, because most of the sex scenes would cause the most holy christians to backslide.

The novel is based on a church called Red Oaks Christian Fellowship located in Macon, Georgia. The stories are based on particular members' lives. The mother of the church, Mother Maybelle, is a lonely, nosey, gossiping, busybody that has had five husbands and no biological children. She reminds me of the woman at the well when Jesus asked her where was her husband and the woman responded that she had none. Jesus said you have said well that you have none because you have had FIVE husbands. Just like Maybelle. Mother Maybelle married five rich men and they all died. I wonder if she's killed them off? I wouldn't put it pass her. She seemed like the type to do such a thing with her lavish lifestyle. Now that story alone would make a great read of a novel.

The review is long because it's an anthology of four stories. So to summarize the short end:

1. A Love Supreme by Janice Sims: Churchgoing landscape owner, Alex Cartwright meets handsome business owner, Jared Kyles. Alex gets him to do something that he hadn't done in years---go to church. Naturally, they fall in love, but not before they make passionate love and then have the audacity to attend church the next morning with no sense of repentance. This story was the second best of the anthology.

2. Love and Happiness by Kim Louise: The third better story in the anthology. Anti-church goer, Renata Conner falls in love with church-going Devin McKenna. Renata is the founder of a non-profit organization that helps wayward children. She seeks Red Oaks financial assistance in helping to keep the agency opened. The busybody, Mother Maybelle, decides that Brother McKenna needs a wife, so she sends him over to the non-profit organization to interview Renata to see if her company is a match for Red Oaks to help. They are attracted to each other, but it becomes rocky. Eventually, they work out their problems, thanks to Mother Maybelle, and fall in love.

3. A Love Like That by Natalie Dunbar is the better story of all. Even though it was the least edited, (more errors than I care to mention, but that's BET for you), it was the most favorable story. Dominique Winston, born into a lap of luxury, meets racing car driver Blair Thomas. They meet at the church's Men's Day picnic where Dominique was a member and a volunteer of the event. Blair was just passing through the city and was invited by a friend to attend. This time, the pastor of the church, Rev. Avery, is the matchmaker of this pair, but he does it with finesse, unlike Mother Maybelle. When things start to turn shaky, here comes Mother Maybelle to the rescue to patch up the broken pieces. Dominique and Blair falls in love, hoping to have a lasting, happy marriage just like Dominique's parents.

4. Love Under New Management by Nathasha Brooks-Harris. Last and definitely least of the anthology. This story dragged on and on. Choir soloist, Valerie Freeman, joins Red Oaks and falls in love with dreadlock wearing choir director, Norman Grant, who happens to be Mother Maybelle's foster son and the most eligible bachelor in the church. Valerie is hurt over a past relationship and doesn't know how to let go and trust again. Norman has to use all of his tactics, along with the help of Mother Maybelle, to get Valerie to marry him. One thing I must say about this author is that she set some very visual chuch sermon scenes. I thought I was sitting in one of the pews. However, there was a sex scene that could have put the X-Rated author ZANE to shame. I was shocked to read how these two church going folks, not to mention being the choir director and his leading lady singer, could so easily make passionate love and attend church the next morning with no sense of repentance. As a matter of fact, you will find this sort of behavior in all four stories. It seemed that no one felt any sense of remorse or sorrow for their sins of lust and fornication. It appeared to be the norm in their church. It makes me wonder what Rev. Avery is preaching about--money or the salvation of souls? It left me with a sense of thinking that all of the couples' sentiments were exactly the same: "Before we get married, we gotta see if we're sexually compatable first."

If you are one of those "Saints", then you wouldn't want to read this, but if you are one of those "Aints", then you can identify. This is a 2.8 on the SmithScale.

I decided to use this book as my first review, although I've read many Christian novels (or so-called Christian novels). First, I agree with the previous reviews that the romance was overboard and sending a negative message to new Christians. This is a book written by four authors telling separate stories based on their affiliation with Red Oaks Christian Church in Macon, Georgia. The mother of the church, Mother Maybelline, is a terrible example of a role model. You'll find her in each of the author's story. She's a busybody, gossiper, matchmaker, gambler, and liar. The main characters were devoted church members and they could not seem to contain their flesh. They so easily committed fornication without regards to thought or repentance.

I also read other so-called Christian fiction novels and they were good books but showed Christians in the negative. These books are, Church Folks, Second Sunday, Casting The First Stone, Lust Of The Flesh, Let the Church Say Amen, The Preacher's Son. These books are all filled with sex and profanity, so beware. This is not to say that they are not good books, they just didn't seem like they should be called Christian fiction novels. Out of these, I must say that Lust Of the Flesh is on the edge of erotica (even though I know that many Christians live this way). I also must say that Casting the First Stone and Too Much of a Good Thing were on the edge of blasphemy (even though many preachers live this way). Let the Church Say Amen, Lust of The Flesh, and The Preacher's Son, were full of perverted church families (again, I'm also aware that this exists in church families). Even though these novels had good intentions with underlying messages, they should not be called Christian fiction.

I don't mean to sound holier than thou, but I just want to know whatever happened to the clean and pure Christian romance? Now all we find is drama in Christian fiction. This may be okay for some, but for me and others like me, don't call these books Christian fiction, call them Christian drama or Church drama instead. I'm sure there is a huge audience for these types of books, but we must put a difference between the two so as not to confuse or trick the readers.

Janice Sims is the hostess with the mostess. She could've soloed on this one. The other stories were just "okay." Nothing spectacular. To be honest, all of the characters from each story sounds alike. There is no distinguished dimension in the characterization. I like the size and price of the book. It's a comfortable read about church folks and their hypocrisies and redemptions. I especially like the fact that the four authors drew the characters from one particular church "Red Oaks Church." I live in Marietta, Georgia and I'm familiar with the Red Oaks community in College Park. 4.0 for Janice Sims' story and 3.0 for the other authors' stories. I've noticed that this genre about black church folks is getting popular. I like it.

To understand my review, one must first understand that I was most hesitant at first to even read the book. Author Janice Sims I was familiar with, however, she was the only one of the four that I could say this about. Aside from having only read the works of one of the others, the entire concept of "Can I Get An Amen," made me a little hesitant. I wasn't quite sure if the authors would be able to pull off this concept of centering all their stories around this fictitious town and church.

Though I admit, the concept was daring, Arabesque knew their stuff when they assembled Janice Sims, Kim Louise, Natalie Dunbar and Natasha Brooks-Harris together for this anthology. What was indeed a Mission Impossible, became a Mission Fulfilled as the writers penned stories filled with love, laughter, tests, trials and religion.

Readers are bound to cheer as Jared Kyles overcomes his commitment fears to build something special with the lovely, Alexandra Cartwright, in a Love Supreme.

They'll cheer again in Love and Happiness, but not just for the main characters, Renata Connor and Devn McKenna, but also for the troubled teen, Malcolm Goodwin. Malcomlm's story is representative of so many troubled males. And to show a couple's love blossoming while helping out one of the often forgotten ones, was nothing short of genius on Kim Louise's part.

If the novel had stopped with the above two, I would have honestly been able to say readers had gotten their money's worth. But added to the above, were sizzling and humorous romance stories by Natalie Dunbar and Natasha Brooks-Harris. Dunbar's story pulled at your heart strings, while Brooks-Harris' story tugged at your funny bone. And none of this would have been possible without the absolutely, delightful Mother Maybelle. Now if that isn't worthy of an Amen, I don't know what is!

I really loved the Janice Sims story, as well as the Kim Louise. They both captured the atmosphere of a small town church as well as the charm of a new romance. Bothe Ms Sims ad Ms Louise continue to grow as writers. They are always a delight to read. The third story by Ms Dunbar was also pleasant. The fourth story doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the anthology, but it didn't touch the heart the way the first two did.

I'm new to this genre and I don't agree with the review. For this to be a Christian fiction romance, it had entirely too much sex. I know they say that "sex sells," but I'm trying to move away from sex-driven novels. The first story by Sims was sooo boring and unrealistic. It moved entirely too fast. It was only 100 pages or so but it took me 2 weeks to get through her story when usually it takes 1 hour to read 100 pages. Natasha, Natalie and Kim's stories were the same. Long and drawn out. This could have been a good romance novel if it wasn't so unreal.

If you are into african-american romance novels like myself then this is the book for you. It is a great romance novel which I love to read along with a little sexiness, But.......the cover and title is very deceiving. This is NOT for the Christian reader looking for a little romance within the church. This book has a LOT of sexual content, values of a TRUE Christian are questioned and you will most likely be offended with this book. There is NOTHING Godly about this book so please beware.

This was a very nice anthology. Being the Janice Sims fan that I am, I enjoyed her installment the most. Ms. Sims' Love Supreme is beautifully written and it features an adorable couple - Jared and Alexandra. When the two of them explore their feelings for each other, it's obvious that they'll soon be strutting down the aisle of Red Oaks Church. Obvious to everyone except the two of them that is. But with a strong supportive cast of characters pulling for them and the ever-present Mother Maybelle putting her two cents in, these two find blessed love. Great job Ms. Sims!

I think the book is great. I could not put it down. I read the entire book in two evenings. I thought the first story was the best, A Love Supreme. However, all four stories were quite enjoyable. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great romance novel.