Customer Reviews

The Cradle Robbers: Misdemeanor

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Baby, yo' daddy showed you what God look like in a man, don't settle for anything less than God's best, ya hear me?" Tanya Marie Lewis shares these words of wisdom and many more in this inspirational and refreshing debut, MISDEMEANOR. Abounding with humor, insightfulness and laugh out loud moments, Lewis' message of family and spiritual awakening will warm your heart and soul.

Eight year old Malena Dawson is wise beyond years and daddy's little girl. Being daddy's little girl has the obvious advantages, but for Mitchell Sr. and Malena, the love of God is the foundation and blessing of their relationship. In one moment everything changes when a deadly accident at work involving Mitchell leaves Malena fatherless. Too young to understand the implications of death and the anguish her mother would undergo due to Mitchell's demise, Malena aimlessly walks around in search of daddy, only daddy never returns. Experiencing hardship in their small town of Ft. Knoxsville, Mississippi, little Malena decides it is time to ask God for a "favor." It is this favor that relocates the Dawson family to the big city of Biloxi, Mississippi with the hopes of starting over and introduces Malena to a young man that will impact her life as she knows it.

Ten year old Gary Carpenter is a unique young man. Full of wisdom, knowledge and understanding in the things of God, Gary is quickly drawn to Malena's spirit and what he often refers to as the bright light that encompasses her. Malena being four years his senior and turned off by Gary's know it all persona refers to him as the young "smelly bible boy" and discounts Gary's displays of affection. As Malena and Gary mature into young adults, Malena becomes more worldly while Gary remains faithful to his teachings of abstinence, spiritual commitment and the promise that one day he and Malena will be together.

MISDEMEANOR is a beautiful debut from Tanya Marie Lewis. Through trials and triumphs, Malena and Gary experience the heartache of first loves and the temptations of worldliness. As the first contributor to Sadorian Publications' trilogy, "The Cradlerobbers", Ms. Lewis has definitely set the stage for this highly anticipated series. MISDEMEANOR is enriching and speaks to the hearts of young men and women who have believed and stood on the promises of God. Written with elements of family, hope, salvation and romance, Ms. Lewis clearly demonstrates that Christian Inspirational Fiction has emerged. Through the voice of Grant Carpenter readers will be comforted to know God is not slack concerning his promise and through the voice of Malena Dawson God will meet you where you are!

Reviewed by Nicki Lancaster
APOOO BookClub

This tale is a treat from start to finish. Who knew one could feel so much in the span of so few pages? From the books opening upon the confused sorrow of eight-year-old Malena until the gutwrenching end, this one held me, stabbed me, released me and pulled me in again.

Bravo, Ms. Lewis. If this is indication, the world can look to see more of you. Much more. I'm belting myself in for the release of Bittersweet Chocolate. I know it will be more than a treat.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!! From the moment I read "I'm Malena, just turned eight yesterday so I don't know a whole bunch of stuff yet." I was hooked.

When I sat down with the book I had planned to only read a couple of chapters and then go to bed. But when Malena waved bye to her Daddy and decided to hold on to his "tote bible" I couldn't put the book down. I felt like this was my little friend and I had to find out what would happen next.

This book may be small, but it sure produces a big story. I would highly recommend this book to book clubs (secular and religious). There are lots of deep discussions that can evolve from this story.

It was truly a blessing to read such a fascinating book about a young woman's spiritual and emotional journey in times like these.

Whenever you read a debut novel, there is always some trepidation. Tanya Marie Lewis crushes that uneasiness and breaks through with a memorable first novel, Misdemeanor. This novel is first in a new series entitled The Craddlerobbers.

The writing style flows easily and reads like a journal. Readers are introduced to Malena as a young child. Her father has past away suddenly leaving this little girl and her family distraught. Unable to cope directly with her father's death, young Malena holds fast to the faith her father passed onto her --- secretly looking forward to his return. As time passes on, Malena never accepts her father's death, she simply harbors the pain and moves on.

During her young adult years, the innocent girl from the first part of the book is replaced with a more sophisticated, but superficial Malena. She seeks fulfilment often times in older, weathly men. The harder she works to achieve her dreams of success and security, the emptier she feels.

The one constant hope in her life is Grant Carpenter. The young precocious boy from her childhood Sunday School class still loves her and strongly believes she will be his wife one day. Now a handsome, God-fearing man, Malena sees the younger man in a different light and a relationship progresses. Unfortunately, the most promising relationship in Malena's life becomes jeopardized by her lack of ability to truly love.

Lewis does an outstanding job with her first novel. The book is a quick and easy read, filled with emotional intensity! Age is indeed nothing but a number as one woman comes to grips with her faith and walks in to her God-driven destiny.

Toiling over how to put my thoughts into letters to make cognizant words, I'm finally here at the point to try to recap one of the most moving books I've ever read. Can you imagine something that may seem to be very small when initially looking at it, but yet once you've been able to inspect it closer you realize that it has had an impact on your life? This is the easiest way for me to start off telling about MISDEMEANOR by Tanya Marie Lewis. In only 134 pages, her words managed to pick me up, turn me around, and place me smack dab in the middle of a life-size mirror, that allowed me a glimpse of her characters and then a full screen view of myself.

Lewis launches The Craddlerobbers Series, which will focus on older women with younger men, but her story sits at the very top of the list of Christian Fiction titles that I've read. MISDEMEANOR is not only the story of two Christians, their path to love and the detours they take to get there, but it also shows the impact that God can have in your life when you're ready to receive Him and the blessings He's prepared to bestow upon you.

MISDEMEANOR opens with an introduction to eight-year-old Malena Dawson after the death of her beloved father. Unsure of what death is and waiting on her father to return, she speaks freely to God about her feelings, surroundings, and family; yet like with most children that age, she doesn't fully understand what happened. However, she does hold onto her Father's Bible, the teachings she's learned from her parents and in church, and her spirit and belief in God. The story follows Malena throughout the remainder of her childhood and on to an adult moving from the small Southern town she grew up in and placing her in the hustle and bustle of Atlanta, Georgia. It is in college that Malena rejects everything she's learned as a child, allowing herself to live in a life of sin on a search to further her career. Yet, in all her success, she finds that she's not happy with herself or the men in her life. On the surface, it appears that she has it all, yet she's not in the right place to see what God has bestowed upon her because she's turned away from Him.

Grant Carpenter is introduced early on in the story as the know-it-all child in Sunday School Class. Four years younger than Malena, he ignores the age difference, and confesses his love to her, even while they are children. Though very young, he possesses an "air" of godliness and knows without a doubt what God has planned for his life. He's sensitive, loving, and patient, with both Malena and God's vision. When they are at a crucial part in establishing their relationship, something happens that topples the balance and Malena is left alone to suffer the consequences of her actions.

There aren't enough adjectives out there to adequately detail Lewis's writing style and sensitive and loving approach to the story revealed in MISDEMEANOR. It is a compelling and moving story of love, patience, forgiveness, redemption, and fate. Lewis has a natural way of storytelling that takes you deep into the crevices of her characters' mind. Her writing is believable, strong, moving, and uplifting. Unlike other books I've read that showcased the protagonist growing up, I actually felt the difference in the character as she grew from a young child into an adult coming full term with her decisions in life. This story also teaches that we shouldn't allow past events to block the blessings that God has in store for us. It touched my heart, warmed my spirit, and caused days of reflection over my own life and the things I could change to be a better person.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Author Tanya Marie Lewis uses her main character, Malena Dawson to narrate her debut title Misdemeanor. The story starts off with eight-year old Malena, a daddy's girl dealing with the loss of her father. The concept of death is a difficult thing to wrap her adolescent mind around. In time, she begins to decipher what death is when her father never returns home. With the love of God instilled in her, Malena believes it is her father's voice she hears that guides her on her journey to adulthood. Throughout college and beyond Malena begins to forget her Christian upbringing and becomes someone that even she doesn't even seem to recognize. Her career, material possessions and carefree lifestyle have become the most important things in her life.

But her childhood friend and admirer, Grant Carpenter, who told her early on that one day she'd be his wife, suddenly resurfaces in her life. Grant is a devout Christian with a staunch belief in God. Malena isn't certain that she needs to have a relationship with him because of their age difference. Unable to get over her father's death, she manages to push Grant away despite her love for him. It is only when she finds her life is empty and unfulfilled despite her successes that she realizes that she is spiraling out of control. She then realizes that no one can help her except the God that she has turned her back on. Will Malena heed to the voice within her head? If she does, will it be too late for Malena and Grant? Will Grant be able to forgive her for all her transgressions?

Author Tanya Marie Lewis does a splendid job of answering all of these questions in this inspirational story. Although short for a typical novel, Misdemeanor, focusing on the important things in Malena's life, omitting unnecessary materialistic descriptions. I thoroughly enjoyed Misdemeanor, and I look forward to reading the second installment, Bloom, by Linda Dominique Grosvenor, in the Cradle Robbers Series.

Vanessa A. Johnson

Readincolor Reviewers

Alright, I don't know whether or not I've become sappier in my old age or what, but this book was so romantic, so moving, so inspirational and hope filled that I'm sitting here typing this review through tear filled eyes. I know that it's a work of fiction but wonderfully told in a short 134 pages that I didn't want to end. The story starts off through the eyes of Malena, age 8, and her perception of the phrase told to her at the time, that "Daddy's not coming home". Unacquainted with death and the phrases that adults use such as "We're going to see Daddy tomorrow" and "Time to say goodbye" Malena and her 10 Year old brother Mitch, hadn't a clue that "Daddy had gone to glory". Told in an 8 year old's voice, the reader is immediately drawn into the story. The story progresses as Malena grows older, the tenure of the story changes, and more of her life is explored. The family moves from Ft. Knoxville Mississippi to the city of Biloxi where she continues to grow. Despite the tragedy of her fathers' death, the family remains strong, prayerful, God fearing and committed to life.

As the story progresses, Mitch goes off to Morehouse and after graduation, marries a wonderful woman and they have a child and he remains ever committed to his family. Malena, two years later goes to college in Atlanta as well, meets for the first time a best friend and relocates to begin her new life. Their mother continues to be an ever-influential part of their lives, their friend and example of how to let go and let God control their destiny. Meanwhile, Malena struggles in love and relationship while all the time knowing that there is someone who is a little younger than her who is hopelessly in love with her. Grant Carpenter. He was a childhood friend who was "special", knew the bible better than the preacher and had an extraordinary relationship with God. As this "cradle robbing" relationship grew, the story turned tender, loving, and expectant. Ooh to read the words of this story really provides the reader with hope and a belief that all things really do work for good.

The Cradle robbers is a series, this is the first installment. I can't wait to read the other works to follow. The authors/publishers have really taken Christian fiction to another level. If Misdemeanor is any indication of the things to come, the next book can't come about soon enough.

Where has this book been all my life? I read all kinds of books from Z- to everything in between but this was definitely a carefully cradled story. I'm glad the reviews on this one seems to be a true reflection of that, not like the reviews of some other authors. Keep writing and I'll keep reading okay? I reccommend this book to everyone with eyes and fingers to keep turning the page.

This story of Malena and Grant is like a letter written to the reader in style. For such a short novel it spans 20+ years starting from the time Malena lost her Dad as an 8-year old. The book follows her as she tries to understand life and death and seeks to build a relationship with the God that was a dear friend to her father. Grant is the younger boy that she has known since he was just a pest in the Sunday School class in which she helped out. Grant is a God fearing man that proclaims Malena as his future wife at the ripe old age of 10. His role in her life is peripheral throughout most of the story, but comes center stage in the latter third. Throughout the novel, Malena stumbles along the way, but ultimately finds a path to the life that God intended for her.

The style of the book draws you in at times, when it feels Malena is speaking to you as a girlfriend would over coffee or tea. Though the God-fearing, Malena-loving Grant was an admirable character, I kept wishing I knew more about him. The chapters that interjected his voice didn't give me any greater insight into him as an individual.

I would first like to say, I have dubbed myself as a personal promoter of Tanya Marie Lewis'. It's been a long time since I've picked up a book and read it continuously- where every free moment of my time is dedicated to reading it, so that I can find out what happens next. Ms. Lewis kept it real (in so many ways) throughout the book. From the beginning with a young Malena trying keep her grammar as Daddy had taught her - "I and Mitch, Mitch and I". Ms. Lewis wrote as if it were Malena writing at the age of seven- making it so real. (...) You'll have to read it to know what I'm talking about... but she just kept it real, how even though we are Christians we can put ourselves in the wrong situation and make mistakes... and God is still gracious and merciful enough to forgive us- so long as we repent. I couldn't believe she went there but I'm thankful that she did. The twist and turns in Malena's life reminded me a lot of myself- from a subconscious sense of low self-worth to passing up a good thing for what others think is better. I identify with many aspects of Malena- too many to list. The book was EXCITING and ENCOURAGING... I am eagerly awaiting Ms. Lewis' next work... Where is that "Bittersweet Chocolate"? Smile. One last word "BUY THE BOOK!!!"- you won't regret it.