A Different Kind of Blues [Paperback]

Gwynne Forster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

At thirty-six, Petra Fields gets a shock that causes her to take a look at her life, and she's not proud of what she sees. Her past is a catalog of secrets and lies that she's never had the courage to own up to, and Petra knows she won't find peace of mind until she's made amends. But the task is far more difficult than she expected.

The first and hardest step is admitting to Krista, her teenage daughter, that the father Krista believed was dead is very much alive--a revelation that will change their relationship forever. Then there's the neighbor whose husband Petra had an affair with, the former coworker that she got fired, and a list of other acquaintances who are understandably angry at her sudden desire for forgiveness. Far from setting her free, the truth seems to bring more complications and heartache, but also opens up her life in surprising ways. And when Petra is granted a new chance at love, she'll face the biggest challenge of all--finding the courage to seize her own happiness and start over for real. . .

Praise for the Novels of Gwynne Forster. . . "Accomplished prose that challenges us to think, feel, and imagine." --Robert Fleming, author of The Wisdom of the Elders

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Forster's heartwarming ode to life (after Getting Some of Her Own), Petra Fields of Ellicott City, Md., learns she has an inoperable brain tumor. Only 36 years old and a single mom, she resolves to face her diagnosed four to six months of life with dignity, so when Rev. Jasper Collins tells her to make a list of people she's wronged to ask for their forgiveness, she hops to it. Most important? Telling her 18-year-old daughter, Krista, that her father is actually not dead. But after apologizing to others (like her neighbor, whose husband she slept with), Petra gets fed up with apologizing and heads off on a monumental road trip that takes her to San Francisco, where she falls in love. She meets other admirers at tourist stops, and, after a transformative visit to Martin Luther King's Tomb, Petra heads home ready to face whatever comes Although Forster doesn't break new ground with this terminal patient becomes enlightened tale, it's still wise and wonderful as it points out, once again, the importance of honesty and appreciating what you have while you have it. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Dafina (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758225601
• ISBN-13: 978-0758225603
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,888,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ABOUT GWYNNE FORSTER
Gwynne Forster is national best-selling and award-winning author of seven novels of general fiction, thirty-one romance novels, and eight mainstream and romance novellas. All of her mainstream novels and several of her romance novels have been featured in Black Expressions Magazine. When Twilight Comes, her first mainstream novel, was featured on the magazine's cover, and it also remained on the Essence Magazine list of best sellers for several months. Her latest mainstream novels, A Different Kind Of Blues and Getting Some of Her Own were published in October 2007 snf 2008, respectively to excelledt reviews. Publiher's Weekly called A Different Kind of Blues "An ode to life...wise and wonderful..."

Among her many awards and forms of recognition, Gwynne is most proud of her election in 2006 to the Affaire de Coeur Magazine Hall Of Fame and of the Life Time Ahcievement Award conferred by Romantic Times Magazine in 2007. The following novels were nominated by Affaire de Coeur Magazine for 'Best romance novel of the year with African-American Hero and heroine: Ecstasy, Obsession, Naked Soul, Fools Rush In, Swept Away, Secret Desire, Scarlet Woman. Winners of the award were: Beyond Desire,Ecstasy, Naked Soul, Fools Rush In, and Swept Away. Readers of Affaire de Coeur Magazine named Gwynne one of Top Ten Favorite Authors for the years 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2006, and one of five outstanding achievers (1998). Rendezvous Magazine voted Secret Desire "Rose Bud of the month" for November 2003. The 2001 Gold Pin Award from Black Writers Reunion and Conference went to Beyond Desire.

Double Day Book Club and Literary Guild selected Beyond Desire and used the book to start the Black Expressions Book Club. Romance In Color internet site gave its 1999 Award of Excellence to Against The Wind and voted Gwynne Author of the Year. The site voted Flying High runner-up to best romance of the year 2003 and gave it Honorable mention. Romance Slam Jam 2000 nominated Gwynne for the Vivian Stephens Lifetime Achievement Award. Romance Slam Jam 2001 gave Gwynne an Emma Award for her novella, "Learning to Love" in the anthology, Going To The Chapel. Romance Slam Jam 2003 nominated Blues From Down Deep for an Emma Award as best mainstream novel. Gwynne lectures extensively on fiction writing, and on making the first sale.

A native North Carolinian who grew up in Washington, D. C. , Gwynne holds bachelors and masters degrees in sociology, a master's degree in economics/demography and has additional graduate credits in journalism. As a demographer, she is widely published. She is formerly chief of (non-medical) research in fertility and family planning in the Population Division of the United Nations in New York and served for four years as chairperson of the International Programme Committee of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (London, England). These positions took her on official business to sixty-three developed and developing countries.

Gwynne sings on her church choir, loves to entertain, and is a museum hopper, gourmet cook and avid gardener. She enjoys classical music, opera, jazz and blues with her husband with whom she lives in New York City. She is represented by the Steel-Perkins Literary Agency, 26 Island Lane, Canandaigua, NY 14424. Reach Gwynne at P.O. Box 45, New York, N.Y. 10044; E-mail [e-mail]; Web page - http://www.gwynneforster.com -. Blog: http://gwynneforster.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gwynne Forster Has Done It Again!, December 18, 2008

By 

Urban Reviews "Your Source for the Best in AA... (Online) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Different Kind of Blues (Paperback)

Petra Fields was feeling blessed. She just received a huge job promotion and she was on top of the world. That was until she received some tragic news that could change her life forever. Her doctor informed her that it was time for her to get her affairs in order because her time was very short. With all this information, her head was spinning out of control. She didn't know how she was going to tell her mother and her daughter that she was dying. She knew she didn't have much time, but there was something she wanted to do.

Petra knew she had to face all of the people she had done wrong. She had to tell her teenage daughter Krista that the man she knew as her father was not dead. She also had some wrongs that she had to make right. Far from being set free from all of her turmoil, Petra finds love. She still has a few hurdles she has to overcome, but she has to seize the moment and move on with the rest of her life.

Gwynne Forster has done it again. A Different Kind of Blues is a book that lets you know you can defeat any obstacle in your way. I thoroughly enjoyed how Ms. Forster brought you into the book. You felt bad for Petra when she was told about her illness. You also felt angry with her when her teenage daughter was told the truth about her dad. Ms. Forster does an excellent job with bringing the characters together instead of overpowering one another. At some point in the book, you can understand what each character is going through. If even if that isn't the case, you at least know someone similar to the characters in the book. A Different Kind of Blues is definitely a solid read.

Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars This Story Had Potential....So Disappointed!, April 16, 2010

By 

Vicki Austin "aka Thezeeyez" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Different Kind of Blues (Paperback)

This book had potential but as she has done with several of her Mainstream novels, the author lost me....too drawn out and boring!! I absolutely had to struggle to complete this story.Maybe I am missing something, because with all of the 5 star reviews I have read on Ms.Forster's bodies of work- Most reviewers seem to believe she is prolific writer.
While Ms.Forster seems to have a knack for tackling relevant and timely issues that could be thought provoking and life changing to her readers, she falls short in weaving the tale. The characters are not well developed, the storylines are slow and drawn out to no end, and the conflict/resolutions do not seem realistic at all. Often the charaters become caracaturs and they are over the top, or barely able to make the hurdle.Not all bad...but not a page turnr either.
I pushed my way through this read as well. It was gut wrenching and I had to put the book down many many times.

5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars - Forster Creates the Makings of a Lifetime Movie, January 1, 2009

By 

M. Bruner ""Deltareviewer" Real Page ... (Oklahoma!) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Different Kind of Blues (Paperback)

Petra Fields was cruising through life - being a single mom, working a regular 8 to 5, and relaxing with her girlfriends several times a week. After an annual physical exam, she realizes that life is too short. Not knowing what to do, Petra shares her news with Reverend Collins wanting sympathy and direction. However, she was not thrilled with his advice - to "get yourself straightened out" and face the demons from her past head-on.

Petra's life begins to unravel as she buries the skeletons from her closet. First she told her 17-year old daughter, Krista, that her father was alive and living across town. Second, she told her neighbor, Ethel, about a short-lived affair with her husband. Third, she exposed the truth to a co-worker about her role in getting her lover fired. Overwhelmed by need to confess her sins and the unwillingness of others to forgive she decides to embark on a cross country tour to face her darkest fears. Will traveling the road less traveled free her from the past?

Forster delivers a poignant story of forgiveness and love. The secrets provide just enough intrigue to keep you interested in how the story plays out. The experiences of Petra's travels provide the right amount of sensuous romance to keep the reader begging for more. A Different Kind of Blues is inspirational while the romance creates a Lifetime movie moment.

Deltareviewer