Customer Reviews

Counting Raindrops Through a Stained Glass Window

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Cherlyn Michaels is an exciting new author who's debut novel, COUNTING RAINDROPS through a STAINED GLASS WINDOW will have readers across the nation talking. The novel immediately captures your attention during the prologue and holds it until the very last page.

Vanella Morris is a single successful woman, who's afraid of commitment. She's in a long term relationship with Alton Goode, who would be considered by most women as their idea man-successful, good looking, family oriented and the list goes on. Vanella has to decide on whether her fear of commitment is worth her losing the love of her life.

The novel has several scenes with Vanella and some of her girlfriends. The interactions between the friends will have you laughing and thinking at the same time. As you read the novel, be prepared for some twists and turns.

Her family is far from perfect, but she loves them and ends up making a special trip back home-St. Louis, Missouri to deal with their family issues.

Michaels has written a winner and I'm eager to read her next one. Counting Raindrops is a must read-don't be left out. Read it for yourself.

The surest way to ruin a good relationship is to marry the man you love. This is the "O" theory, which is the basis of Vanella Morris' life. Vanella has been in a wonderfully drama free relationship for six years. That is until the love of her life, Alton, decides to throw her a monkey wrench and propose. Unable to convince Alton that "shacking" would be much better she has been backed against a wall. Just as her love life begins to deteriorate her family is starting to unravel at the seams. Between her man-crazy sister, over compensatory younger brother, emotionally starved mother and totalitarianistic father, Vanella has no time to take care of her own situation. Vanella now has the perfect excuse to "run for the hills" and make a pilgrimage home to try to salvage her family.

In the process of trying to save her family, Vanella discovers a secret that her family may not be able to survive. This secret has the ability to disprove the "O"theory as well as destroy her family. Unsure of anything at this point Vanella finds comfort from her first love. She is then forced to face some demons from long ago. If she finds the strength to do this her life may change forever.

Cherlyn Michaels' debut novel, Counting Raindrops Through A Stained Glass window has best seller written all over it. Michaels is a wonderful storyteller with the uncanny ability of keeping the readers from putting down the book. She has introduced us to some of the most unforgettable characters in African American fiction. Counting Raindrops is one of those books that you will pick up from time to time just because.

Angie Pickett-Henderson
Readincolor Moderator/Reviewer

This book was really good. Cherlyn took an approach to the different side of women and marriage. Most women love to get married but for her particular character, Vanella Morris, she chose to make Vanella question the validity of marriage. I would definitely reccommend this book. It's fun, exciting and also has a lot of drama. The ending is the best part. Great Job, Cherlyn!! Can't wait to see sequels.

This book is destined to be a best seller!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This book is very entertaining and full of unexpected twists and turns, and is complemented with the author's flair of writing.

Vanella Morris is the main character and we share in her misgivings about marriage and why. We share in her quest to have a successful relationship in her own way. We share in her discovery of the keys to a successfull marriage. Her issues about herself, her job, and her relationship are real and most anyone will be able to relate to it. Her family issues are dramatic, funny, and also make a point as to how we can not see things as clearly as we think we are seeing them.

Young women should read this book as well. It's entertaining, but makes you think about marriage and relationships. Cherlyn has a gift of being able to keep you interested. It's a pageturner. Her writing style is very interesting and kept me reading page after page. She has a way of describing things and the characters feelings and thoughts that pull you right into the story with them. This lady definitely has a gift!!!! A promising new author with tremendous writing talent.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book if you enjoy mainstream relationship novels. Cherlyn Michaels is an author to watch and there needs to be a sequel to this one!!!

This was a great and quick read. I read it in a little over a day. I loved the twists in this story. It was great to read something unpredictable for a change. A lot of relationship books now are basically the same thing with different names. I commend Cherlyn Michaels for offering something different. I kept thinking certain things were going to happen and it would take a different turn. And I agree that this author has a way with words. And it does makes you think. I wish I had read something like this before I got married and divorced. The issues and discussions are real and the book is very entertaining.

Vanella Morris has the perfect life. She has a wonderful job as an engineer where she makes lots of money and she lives in a beautiful condo in Cleveland, Ohio. She also has Alton, the perfect man, in her life. They spend as much time together as possible at her condo or his. Both enjoy watching football games, riding motorcycles and going on fabulous vacations. What more could a girl ask for? Vanella wants it to go on this way forever but Alton has other plans. He wants to get married.

Vanella has watched her parents less than perfect marriage and she has held the hands of her girlfriends as their once wonderful love affairs turned to marriage and then divorce. Not wanting to lose Alton ever, she refuses to marry him. Disappointed, Alton drifts away from her and Vanella has to examine her life and her phobia. We follow Vanella as a family crisis forces her to delve into her parents' marriage and family secrets are uncovered. Some new truths come to the forefront and she begins to realize that every man does not turn into a monster once he says `I do.' The big question is, can she get Alton back or is it too late?

This is a quick paced romance with plenty of twists and turns. It was an enjoyable book that gave the reader plenty to think about.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of the RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I have to admit that I held off on writing a review because I was concerned about the advance review copy that I won. It had errors that I see were corrected in the finished book that I just got today. Other than that, this book was a great change of pace. She took the same type of relationship story and put a different twist on it. Although I've grown tired of the girlfriends scenes in these books, I really enjoyed the one in this one because of what the girls talked about. Each had a different and interesting perspective on marriage. I enjoyed her writing style too. It's definitely different. I highly recommend this book and hopes this author continues to write more in the future.

4.5

Most women dream of having a handsome, successful good loving man ask them for their hand in marriage. Not Miss Vanella Morris. Though she doesn't physically run from the room screaming, she is mentally terrified of the effects she has seen marriage have on a good relationship. Vanella is bound and determined not to become another divorce statistic. Her six year relationship with Alton has been nothing short of fantastic, until Alton tries to ruin things by proposing marriage.

Vanella's dilemma sets in motion this wonderful drama, cleverly disguised as a love story. Cherlyn Michaels novel addresses the issues of a dysfunctional family and its dramatic effects on a woman's perception of marriage. Growing up watching her father verbally and mentally abuse her mother angered Vanella. What confused and irritated her most was the fact that her mother continued to stand by and meekly take whatever her husband dished out. Her father's actions along with Vanella's misguided girlfriends' advice are no help to her situation. Meanwhile Alton waits patiently in wings for Vanella to say yes to his proposal. When she suggests that they live together instead, Alton is devastated.

The most intriguing thing about this book is the way the author plays you as a reader. She sets her characters up to be a certain way and then more than halfway through the book, she flips the script on you. Nothing and almost no one in this book are as they seem to be. This book deals with some hard issues such as abuse, adultery and downright betrayal. It is also about letting go of the past, learning to forgive and giving yourself time to heal. Vanella eventually learns to overcome her fears by evaluating their root cause. The surprises in this book are well worth the read and worth the wait to get there.

Reviewed by Felecia R. Ellis of Memphis RAWSISTAZ

The debut novel Counting Raindrops Through a Stained Glass Window is the type of book that you can curl up on the sofa with and lose yourself in for hours and hours on end, not wanting for one single moment to stop reading...just itching and crying to see what's going to happen next!!!

It's the story of a Cleveland, OH career woman, Vanella Morris, who has it all: a great income, a beautiful condominium and an incredible boyfriend. Her boyfriend, the sexy Alton Goode, is walking perfection. He dotes on her and treats her like the ultimate Nubian queen that she is. Their relationship is so perfect and fulfilling that Alton asks Vanella to marry him. You would think she would scream "Yes, yes, YES!" and they would jump on a pretty white horse and ride off into a beautiful sunset.

But that doesn't happen. From here, the author takes that old tired cliche (boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy marries girl, boy and girl live happily ever after) and absolutely destroys it with a sledge hammer!

The problem is that Vanella Morris has a severe case of commitment phobia. You see, she has memorized all the horrible marriage statistics. Most of her friends have been divorced or are having a rough time in their marriages. And to top it off, she grew up in a dysfunctional household. Vanella has digested it all, and her conclusion? Marriage is NOT a good thing.

She suggests to Alton that instead of marrriage, they should consider living together. Alton, in turn, walks out the door.

Vanella has allowed her past experiences to shape her beliefs. The novel is an incredibly detailed exploration of the "why" of why Vanella has developed such jaded attitudes about marriage and commitment. Through interactions with her friends and her immediate family, the reader gets a good picture of why she believes what she believes. Is Vanella justified in her beliefs? Where does Vanella go from here?

What makes this book so interesting is that it's a twist on the usual commitment tale, where this time, it's a woman, and not a man who has cold feet. And that's original. The cities of St. Louis and Cleveland are not only city settings/backdrops for this novel, but are, in the hands of this talented first-time author, living and breathing characters. The author's writing style is stunning, deeply engrossing, incredibly vivid, and vibrant to say the least. The character development, visualization, and description are some of the best I've seen in years. Cherlyn Michaels adds twists and turns on top of twists and turns in this highly original storyline. This author has mastered the art of drawing the reader so deep into the mind and heart of the main character that the reader feels what Vanella feels, cries when Vanella cries... All in all, it is a wonderful story which will challenge the reader to think about what has shaped his or her own beliefs over the years.

You remember how you felt the first time you heard an incredible CD that knocked your socks off? That's how you will feel when you read the last word on the very last page of this book... Incredible!

Counting Raindrops Through a Stained Glass Window is just like Maxwell House Coffee... Good to the last drop!

Go out and get this book! Trust me... you won't regret it!!

Counting Raindrops through a Stained Glass Window is a great new book by a gifted new author. The book takes you on a different journey into relationships that is fresh and new. The author makes you feel as if you are with the characters as they go through their trials and tribulations. It grabs you from the beginning till the end. A great book.