Distraction [Kindle Edition]

J.L. Campbell (Author)

Book Description

Three Jamaican women walk a tightrope of decisions when their lives are derailed by blackmail, deceit and infidelity.

JUSTINE CHARLES, sensible and self-contained, battles an addiction which could destroy her marriage, reputation, and relationship with her daughter.

DIONNE JONES, an aggressive go-getter, takes risks that cut a trail of devastation through her family and business.

KYRA MILLS, struggling single mother, is crippled by debt, bad judgment and destructive choices.

Can two of the long-time friends survive startling revelations involving their partners? And will the other push her obsession to the point of danger?

Product Details

• File Size: 584 KB
• Print Length: 334 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Little Prince Publishing (June 4, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00892AWEK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,829 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #68 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > United States > African American > Women's Fiction

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beauty out of tough times July 22, 2012

By Molly R.

Format:Kindle Edition

J.L. Campbell is an excellent writer, and proves it in this novel, where she takes some difficult and sometimes taboo themes (adultery, addictions, domestic abuse, sexually transmitted diseases) and writes with beauty and compassion about them. My heart went out to these three women and their lovers and families, who live through an exciting soap opera of problems as this novel develops. Though this is "women's fiction" rather than "romance"--because the romance genre often doesn't dare touch said taboo themes--there is plenty of romantic interest that had me sighing and cheering and feeling bereft as the relationships twisted and changed. Take for example Xavier, a serious distraction to the married Justine: he's tall, gorgeous, patient, understanding, *and* can play guitar and sing. Yeah, I see how she got distracted. Yum!

Best of all was the flavor that the setting lent to the whole story. Campbell excels at sprinkling enough Jamaican dialect and cultural details (foods, plants, gorgeous beaches...) into the novel to make me feel like I got to know the island, without it ever being confusing. Since I've never been to the Caribbean, and wasn't sure what to expect of the culture, that was especially interesting and fun.

From the teaser chapter of the sequel, at the end of this novel, I get the impression there'll be more coming from these characters, for which I'm glad. I want the soap opera to go on! Great beach read, whether you're anywhere near the Caribbean or not.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable look into the lives of three friends June 30, 2012

By Medeia Sharif

Format:Kindle Edition

DISTRACTION follows the lives of three friends, Justine, Kyra, and Dionne. Justine is cheating on her husband, who has become emotionally cold and secretive with her. Kyra keeps allowing her on-again, off-again boyfriend into her life; he's a moocher who won't let her go, even when she finds the real deal in another man. For the sake of business, Dionne has an affair that threatens to ruin her solid family.

This novel deals with friendship, family, motherhood, infidelity, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse issues among these three women. I've read other works by Campbell and she always creates such emotionally detailed characters that it's like taking a glimpse into the lives of real people. This book is no different. DISTRACTION is more character-driven than action-driven; the suspense is there, but it was a slow simmer as I became acquainted with Justine, Kyra, Dionne, and their respective problems. At the end of the book there are a few pages of RETRIBUTION, the sequel. I'm eager to pick up where I left off with these three friends.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars What a Tangled Web We Weave June 24, 2012

By Linda Ulleseit

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The women in this book are definitely distracted from their families and their work. The strongest relationship in the book is the one between the three friends. These are not the typical novel heroines. They are flawed like we all are; they have trouble making the right decision and suffer for their inability to do the right thing. Nonetheless I found myself liking them and rooting for everything to turn out.

I very much enjoyed the Jamaican setting and colorful proverbs sprinkled throughout this story. My only criticism is that the struggle part of the book went on a bit long, and the reward for getting to the end was too brief. Too many surprise twists were delivered too quickly compared to the long buildup. Having said that, the book still delivers on a lot of levels. It's a book that showcases the strength of friendship despite personal imperfections, and that's a theme that everyone can relate to.

More About the Author

J.L. Campbell is a proud Jamaican and an award-winning writer, who is always on the lookout for story-making material.

She writes romantic suspense, women's fiction and young adult novels. She is the author of Contraband, Christine's Odyssey, Dissolution, Distraction, Don't Get Mad...Get Even, Giving up the Dream, Retribution and Hardware (written under the pen name Jayda McTyson).

Visit her on the web at http://www.joylcampbell.com