God Only Knows [Paperback]

Xavier Knight (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 23, 2009

Julia Turner, an ambitious educator in her mid-thirties, leaves a high-profile job in Chicago to return to Dayton, Ohio to serve as superintendent of Christian Light, the K-12 private school system from which she graduated two decades earlier. A single mother with an ugly divorce and a complex childhood in her rearview mirror, Julia views her mission as a chance to contribute to her hometown and conquer the demons from her past. But she never expects to confront the one sin she and her childhood friends agree to bury as teens-the accident that left Eddie Walker hospitalized and incapacitated.


Meanwhile, Detective Peter Whitlock, Eddie Walker's older bother, is still determined to find the person(s) responsible for his brother's condition. As an unrelated investigation leads to another woman who is involved in the accident, the responsible parties must decide whether they will keep their dark secrets, or tell the truth and let God decide the outcome.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Knight (The Things We Do for Love) weaves a somewhat implausible story line that delves into the past of four African-American teen girls who attended a mostly white Christian high school in Dayton, Ohio. Lurking in the minds of these now accomplished adult women is the memory of an attempted sexual assault from 20 years earlier, when the intended victim turned the tables on her white fellow student assailant. Julia Turner, a skilled educator, returns to Christian Light School (where the crime was committed) and tries to make a difference in the community at large. Turner soon realizes she cannot run from the past and its consequences when she is pressured by unlikely sources to face the truth. Close friends, a former romantic interest and the Holy Spirit's nudging convince Turner to bravely set a different course for herself. Fans of Knight's previous works will appreciate the author's underlying message of righting societal wrongs. But so much of the novel's dialogue is unnaturally stilted that it detracts from the impact the author intended. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Xavier Knight, pseudonym for C. Kelly Robinson, is Essence bestselling author of NOT ALL DOGS, BETWEEN BROTHERS, NO MORE MR. NICE GUY, THE STRONG SILENT TYPE, and THE PERFECT BLEND. Xavier is currently in Dayton, Ohio with his wife Kyra, busy at work on his next novel.

Visit Xavier at www.ckellyrobinson.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Original edition (March 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446582395
• ISBN-13: 978-0446582391
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,081,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Happens In The Past, Doesn't Always Stay In The Past, March 13, 2009

By 

Donnica Carter "AKA DCSquared" (Marietta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: God Only Knows (Paperback)

Julia Turner and Cassie Gillette are childhood friends. Friends who shared a fatal night with fellow classmate, Eddie Walker, that left him in a vegetative state. Neither of the women have shared their involvement in the tragedy. The racial tension that surrounded their school, Christian Light, would have surely exploded had these young black girls revealed they may have had a hand in the accident of a white classmate. Will the truth ever surface? Will their lives change forever?

Julia is dealing with the issues of her past and being a single mother to her niece. She moved back to Dayton, Ohio to help keep Christian Light open. When Eddie's brother, Detective Peter Whitlock, surfaces with threats to get more information about the night his brother's life was shattered, Cassie and Julie have to decide if they will come clean with their involvement. They soon decide to give it all to God and let him take total control over the entire situation.

God Only Knows by Xavier Knight is a suspense that will have you turning the pages until the end. The characters are so compelling and you find yourself rooting for them. You cannot decide if you want them to tell the truth or not. Knight draws upon his unyielding faith to create a realistic, believable and compelling story. I highly recommend this book for fans of C. Kelly Robinson aka Xavier Knight.

Reviewed by Donnica Copeland
APOOO BookClub
Sista Talk Book Club

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Urban christian fiction packed with mystery, romance and faith, April 23, 2009

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: God Only Knows (Paperback)

God Only Knows by Xavier Knight is a dramatic romance laced with mystery. Julia Turner and Cassie Duncan's friendship was cemented one night twenty years ago that ended with a classmate in a vegetative state, and the two girls along with two more sworn to secrecy for life. But one girl breaks her vow, leaving the others in danger. When Cassie is threatened by a police detective to release the truth about her involvement if she doesn't give in to his blackmail demands, she and Julia team up to discover what really happened that night and tell the truth before it has the opportunity to shatter their lives beyond repair. In this midst of this crisis, Julia reconnects with the high school crush her broke her heart. Knight's writing is tight and fast-paced, and his terrific dialogue keeps the story moving as well. There is a wonderful message about redemption and letting go of the past.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Forgive Us Our Trespasses..., March 19, 2009

By 

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

This review is from: God Only Knows (Paperback)

Dr. Julia Turner, Cassie Gillette, Theresa "Terry" Lewis, and Toya Parks were four minorities attending an all 'white' school and they share a horrible secret. Two decades later, as adults with families of their own, they've moved on in life. Three of them are successful, and each have attempted to leave that dreadful memory in the past. Pete Whitlock shows up at Cassie's doorstep stating one purpose but with a more sinister one...he accuses her of being a part of the reason for his brother being paraplegic.

Julia has moved back home to restore her alma mater, Christian Lights. Like Cassie, she is a born again Christian, and their friendship has blossomed even more in adulthood. Together, they embark on 'righting' the wrong that occurred on that mysterious night while trying to recall the exact event. Dr. Maxwell Simon, another Christian Light alumni, has returned home with a new outlook from his childhood. He and his friends were also minorities in the school, but in seeking acceptance, they shunned the girls that looked like them for the 'white' ones.

God Only Knows is an inspirational read that serves as a testimonial of sorts. Xavier Knight's storyline shows that no matter what the situation is, God has all of the power and might in his hand. It shows how each trial is only temporary, but His power is everlasting and almighty. Even though I found the book to be a bit slow and uneventful, God Only Knows is a calming read that has a few lessons regarding family, friendship, and enemies.

Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye
for Urban Reviews