Customer Reviews

A Deeper Love

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

 

 

Angela (a.k.a Angel) Reynolds is on the rebound when as fate would have it she meets Paula Travis. Paula also is recovering from a broken heart and despite their strong attraction towards one another; she proceeds with the utmost of caution. Being leery of love is not Paula's only hang up, her family has yet to learn of her sexual orientation. Paula's inability to admit to the world around her who she is, does bother the openly gay Angel, but in the name of love, she is willing to make this compromise. At this juncture, Ms. Brown raises the question, exactly what sacrifices and compromises are any of us willing to make for the sake of love? Where should one draw the line?
Finding herself alone during the holiday season, Angel soon discovers where she'll draw the line as she wades through her own feelings of abandonment. All she ever wanted was to love and be loved in return. In her solitude, introspection stirs a new and more confident Angel. By looking into herself, she finds what can only come from within, "A Deeper Love."
Although the story has an air of sadness about it, somewhere around page 100 I began to take delight in it, in the way that I would at the first signs of spring, following a long and harsh winter. Ms. Brown's writing style shows strength and in her bio she proclaims to be a voice representing the Gay community. In general, she is a welcomed voice and shows great promise. While not quite lyrical she has a talent for good lines like, "My heart and face ached, and somewhere deep within my misery, I heard the pitter patter of rain outside my window." The aspect of creating a real sense of sexual tension between Angel and Paula was well done and could be felt right to the core. I anticipate Ms. Brown's following will continue to grow as her readers eagerly await her next release and I wish her much success.

Marian E.
APOOO BookClub

...just plain bad grammar and careless mechanical errors are another. I had a hard time muddling through this book, for the countless compositional mistakes were extremely distracting; the "reading experience" practically becomes ruined. Honestly, I'm not even sure how this novel made it past the presses with such slipshod work.

In my opinion, one does not need anything akin to a magnifying glass or a college degree in order to detect said mistakes -- they practically jump out at you from the page.

It's a shame that this story becomes overpowered by typographical errors, for its message contains positive, inspirational themes regarding self-esteem and spirituality. Oddly enough, Brown's writing seems to come alive (and error-free) during the intimate love scenes, of which I did thoroughly enjoy. But after the thrill has gone, the reader is left cold again with stale writing, a rushed ending, and even more typos.

Love is supposed to be gentle and kind. Sometimes we experience what we think is love but that love can be a (...). It can drag you so far down you have to look up to see the bottom. Just when you think that love won't ever be good for you, you see light at the end of the tunnel. Then you are able to experience, "A Deeper Love".
In this novel we meet Angel. A young aspiring writer, who has just been dumped during the holidays by her long-time girlfriend for a white woman. All she wants to do id drawn her sorrows in drink. What she finds instead is the woman of her dreams, Paula.
On the outside, Paula appears to be a very positive confident woman who exudes sexuality. On the inside she is filled with lurking insecurities of love and a color complex. Angel and Paula soon go on a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows but eventfully wind up coming full circle.
Shonia Brown, an Atlanta writer, pours out her heart and soul throughout the pages of her first novel. She takes her readers on a journey of heartbreak, hope, love, self-discovery and forgiveness.
"A Deeper Love" examines the complexities of love in lesbian relationships and friendships. It takes you into the psyche of being a black lesbian who deals with a gay male friend's destructive behavior, the color lines that construct fences throughout relationships, and that familiar structure that can help make or break a relationship. It keeps you wanting more because it's sexual, sensual, thought provoking, and humorous.
As soon as I opened this novel, I was hooked. I advise everyone to go out and get this book ASAP. (...)

Completely spellbinding, A Deeper Love is the thoughtful, affectionate tale of Angel written by debut author Shonia L. Brown. The introspective novel will move you from beginning to end.

Angel is a recently-dumped woman whose girlfriend, Val, left her for a white woman. Feeling down, she heads to a local lesbian club to drown her sorrows. Ironically she meets Kim, a friendly white girl who manages to drag her to another club, there Angel meets Paula. Beautiful and voluptuous, Paula helps Angel recover from Val. She's a breath of fresh air from the rubbish in her life.

Together they build a slow relationship, and while courting, they discover each other's pasts. Angel tells Paula about Val; Paula shares her family issues and being closeted. They attempt to help one another through their pain, all the while falling in love. The two are inseparable, or so it seems.

As love arrives, it soon vanishes. Paula is called away for a family emergency back home, and she disappears from Angel's life. Paula cuts all ties and communication with Angel, leaving her devestated. At first Angel doesn't know what to do with herself. But, through her solitude, Angel learns to depend on herself and look within for happiness. She becomes stronger in Paula's absence and a better person. It took losing someone to discover all the love she needed was within herself.

Brown created a believable read that surprises you on many levels. It portrayed the discovery of new love, as well as the heartbreak of losing it--and all of it changes you for the better. By the end, Angel unearths a deeper love, and is ready to give herself fully to a worthy woman.

Brown's work was both delightful as well as a quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the characters seemed to come to life. The feeling of the book is both moody and energic that bring to life the novel making the characters resemble those of friends, family even characteristics that I find in myself. Everyone can draw a piece of themselves out of one or more of the characters in this book.

As a reader of who typically will read an author's collection, I am looking forward to reading anything that this author publishes.

I was a little doubtful about whether of not I would enjoy this book, but I must say I did. The characters were real and I felt like I was getting to know them. I think I read this book in one day and I was pacing myself. I just wanted to know how things would end up. I loved Angel and despite the situation, still had positive feelings about Paula. I hope that there will be more from this writer and even perhaps a continuation of these characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I was unable to put it down. The writer did a great job exploring the difficulties we face when we allow our past experiences to interfere with our present experiences. The story had passion and pain, laughter and tears, excitement and fear. It's a great read and I'd highly recommend it to all of my proud African-American Lesbian sisters.
Enjoy!

A DEEPER LOVE is the story of unconditional love and acceptance. Taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, it is the story of Angela, a young Black lesbian woman, who finds herself alone on Christmas Eve. Recovering from a break-up, Angela ventures to a lesbian bar where she encounters Paula. Angela is comfortable with her sexuality, whereas Paula is still in the closet. The taunting of her mother also caused Paula's issue with her skin color and she comes to realize that black is beautiful.

A DEEPER LOVE is the well-written story of Angela and Paula's quest for a love that surpasses skin color, family, and sexuality. Shonia Brown has authored a compelling love story and has given the literary world insight to lesbian love.

Reviewed by Robilyn Heath
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

A well written Gay and Lesbian book with "Two Thumbs Up" I really enjoyed the easy reading and the anticipation I felt to the end. I definitely will be looking for more books from this talented author in the future.

Marvelous, delightful, more fun that a pint of your favorite ice cream is the way to describe Shonia Browns wonderful page-turning novel, A DEEPER LOVE. I zipped through it in two afternoons.

The central character is Angela, known affectionately to her friends, as Angie, an African-American lesbian, who was kicked to the curb by her lover, Val. But Angie had fire and spunk. Our Angie wasnt one to sit around, crying because she was left behind. Life was to be celebrated, and Angie did it with gusto.

She is definitely someone Id love to hang out with. LOL!

Shonia Brown did not create a character with Angie, but a flesh and blood person, with an assortment of friends and family members. Some with very colorful backgrounds.

I particularly loved Angie's best pal, James, a delightfully smart mouth queen. Like Angela, James had spunk. His family disowned him because he loved men, but still, he retained his spirit.

To me, Angie and James were a black Will and Grace, only in A DEEPER LOVE, Grace was gay.

Angie later meets Paula, a lesbian with issues. Paulas family does not know that shes into women, and Paulas mother didnt love her because she wasnt light-skinned. Yeah, you read that right.

A DEEPER LOVE appealed to me because Angie celebrated life and love.

Lesbians and open-minded readers should delight in this magnificent novel.

So, buy it today.

Pamela Hayes