Customer Reviews

Down On My Knees

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Victor McGlothin has raised the standard for Christian Fiction. "Down On My Knees" is a spiritual awakening that explores the naked truth about Sex, Celibacy, and the Single Sistah. This novel is exactly what Black women are looking for to war against carnal demons that frequently sabatoge our relationships, hopes and dreams of marriage. "Down On My Knees" is christian fiction at it's best.

I just finished this novel with mixed emotions. I judge a book by how fast I was able to read it-meaning a book that I consider a page turner is one that I just can't put down or pull myself away from. I felt that way about his "Sinful Too" book but he didn't capture me in the same way with this novel. When I am in love with a book it normally takes me 1-2 days tops to complete it, this book literally took me a week. I was about to give up but told myself to see the story to the end.

I liked the character of Grace but...I think it took way to long to connect her with Wallace. There were some dialogue and scenes that I was so bored with that I would put the book down. I even began to read a novel my Maureen Smith by Day 4 of reading this book and finished her book that exact same night it was literally that well written. It gave me hope the next day to re-open this book.

I do like the message of the book, and the foundational scriptures that are used. I do love the fact that she (Grace) didn't have to compromise her standards in order to get what she wanted...I believe the climatic scene at Edwards house was over the top and unrealistic but nonetheless I was happy that it was a book that tackled celibacy in a honest and realistic way. I would recommend this book to someone who is struggling with celibacy (as a reference) but I wouldn't recommend this book to those who are avid readers who are eager to sink their teeth into a page turner.

Victor has done it again with this great story! This story is a great read for any woman who is struggling spiritually with finding their soul mate and letting go physically and letting God have his way in his time. All good things happen in time if you are willing to be patient and believe in him. Thanks Victor for another great book!

Grace Hillard is a single mom to her 13-year old son and an successful advertising executive at the top of her game. While she's always the bridesmaid but never the bride, she appears to be content with her life--thanks to a couple of a flings. Yet one day, Grace begins to feel that something is missing from her life. A man to call her husband and a father for her son. After talking to an elder member at her church and her lovers, she decides to "let" go, focus on her relationship with God, and become celibate. Of course, nothing in life comes easy and she soon comes to struggle with her decision but Grace is determined until she meets Wallace Peters, her son's teacher. And if that isn't enough to deal with, after missing in action for 13 years, her son's father reappears and that sets off a chain of events that will forever change Grace and her son. Down On My Knees is the story of one woman's spiritual journey to not only find her faith but ultimately herself. It is a book that will appeal to EVERY reader whether you love Contemporary, Urban, or Christian Fiction. I give this book 4 stars. Reviewed by Shay C of PeoplewholoveGoodBooks.

I bought this book thinking it was a Christian book and I felt I was deceived. The celibacy plot and the scriptures used to support it were good, but some scenes were too graphic to be considered a good Christian read. It took me almost a week to read this book when it normally takes me 1-3 days. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Down on my Knees by Victor McGlothin is the story of Grace, an attractive, successful thirtysomething-year-old single mother who decides she's tired of casual affairs and wants to get married to a good man. One of the central themes of the story seems to be the idea that abstaining from premarital sex will lead to a happy marriage, an idea that will probably appeal to the book's intended audience more than to the general public.

The writing is fair, but not good. The dialogue is particularly bad. For example, Grace's lover explains to her that he doesn't want to marry her by saying, "You have a nice body, a pretty face...but you can also be moody at times." Another lover says, "I'm smart enough to recognize my shortcomings, and there are a lot of them. But by my limiting your view, it's harder for you to see the flaws and chips in any diamond." In addition to the dialogue being bad, there is too much telling where there could have been showing, a hallmark of mediocre writing.

The characterizations tend to be flat, especially the good characters, such as Grace's son, who is routinely complimented on being a star pupil, a star athlete, and a nice person, all because of how his mama raised him, but there is little detail of how all of this came about. The son's teacher is similarly flat, and one of the plot twists is frankly insulting to teachers; he's considered attractive because he's not really a teacher, he's a lawyer who happens to teach.

As a reader, I have a few things in common with Grace: we're the same gender, from the same area of the country in the same time period. However, I found that I could not identify with her AT ALL, which may be because we are from different races and different social classes, as well as different generations. I would be interested in hearing from someone whose life is more like hers, to see how realistic her character is from that perspective.

Finally, although there are a few plot twists, the story is predictable overall, and the twists aren't necessarily satisfying.

That being said, there are some strengths to the novel. Grace's relationship with her two best friends is touching when its depth is revealed. The sex scenes are very well written, neither overly sentimental nor overly trashy. Despite the countercultural theme of premarital abstinence, there is little shame or judgment of anyone's human flaws, which is a refreshing change from what I was expecting. And the ending had me on the edge of my chair. Although I find the overall theme to be unrealistic, it does make a good story. I give it a solid C-plus.

Grace is a self made, educated, professional, middle class single mother and single woman who loves the Lord. A chance comment by a bride makes her reevaluate a major aspect of her lifestyle. Probably like some single Christian people Grace goes to church on the weekends but still finds time to get her freak on, which is contrary to the Christian life she is suppose to be following. However this book is not judgemental and with the help of an elder church sister she gets Down her knees and asks the Lord to help change her life. I really enjoyed this book, all the characters seemd realistic, it is a funny, spiritual,romantic book with a touch of major drama at the end which I did not think added to the story to be honest hence I give this 4.5 stars instead of 5. But go out and buy also read the connecting story called Sinful about the character Chandelle.
Victor really writes female characters very well, Wallace (the love interest)is too good to be true but if men like him really exist send em to me! lol

This was a really good book. I recommend it to all of my single Christian friends because it brings to lite some of the issues that we deal with everyday and was very encouraging to me.

This book started out kinda slow for me and then i gotten into and found out that Grace in the beginning of the book was just a full blown "HOOCHIE" (smile) but as i read further the book deals with real life stuff! not sure about anyone else but this book had me laughing out loud alot..so much i had to remember i was by myself reading and look around so no one around me would think i was crazy..Ladies if you be real with yourself and realize you and Grace might be or once was in the same boat, it gives you hope that God can and will turn that mess around and cause it to work for your good!

Down on My Knees was selected as an independent read for the bookclub which I am currently a member of(Mocha Moments). We knew that Victor was going to appear at the Capital Bookfest in Largo, Maryland and we decided to read his book since we knew he was going to be a participant.

Down on My Knees was a compelling and inspirational story. I think Grace was someone that we all could identify with. She was passionate about her vow of celibacy, but understood and dealt with the ramifications of "backslidin'". It showed me that Grace was human and that we all make mistakes and that having faith will pull you through any situation.

The book is a definite page turner and will keep you wondering if Grace can "hold out". This book is however, one of the very few where the climax is revealed later in the book and then it hits you like a Mack truck, I was so caught off guard!!!!!

Congratulations on a great book Victor. We're looking forward reading more of your works and joining us again in the DC/Metro Area.