Customer Reviews

Have a Little Faith

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Four renowned authors meet in an inspirational romance anthology in Have a Little Faith. The four stories showcased include Signs of Light by Jacquelin Thomas; Faith Will Overcome by ReShonda Tate Billingsley; Maybelline by J.D. Mason and Survival Instincts by Sandra Kitt. The stories are light hearted yet present words of wisdom and lessons learned without being overly preachy, thus the label Inspirational rather than Christian Fiction.

In Signs of Light, Lorna Hamilton, owner of a gourmet bakery, who is continually frustrated by the string of welfare recipients who come into her establishment which happens to be near the local Social Services department. In Lorna's mind, these young women are lazy, don't want to work and sit around having babies on the county. The fact that she cannot have children weighs heavily on her mind as her relationship with Walter Reynolds becomes more serious. One day a young woman, Brittany, comes into the bakery with her three year-old son, Kendall and asks to pay for her son's birthday cake with food stamps. Lorna is at first antagonistic and judgmental but Little Kendall's sweet ways and sickly appearance tears at her heart strings. Lorna learns that what seems to be is not always so.

Faith Will Overcome finds Faith, a young woman who constantly makes poor choices when it comes to men, was this reviewer's favorite. A local college basketball star has disrespected her and humiliated her in public. Faith thought Xavier was the one. But then Faith thinks every man that comes across her path is the one, even the married deacon she had been having rendezvous' with in cheap motels. Faith has dreams of owning her own hair salon but feels she is stuck in Beaumont, Texas working as a housekeeper in a second rate motel. Darius Williams is the epitome of a gentleman and a Christian young man but it is hard for Faith with her low self-esteem, to believe that he could possible care about her. Darius sees a young woman who needs to learn to love herself.

Olivia Phillips feels her life is over when she loses one of her breasts to cancer in Maybelline. She drove her boyfriend, Quinton, away and is living a miserable existence. Her only pleasure is going to a local jazz club where the proprietor, Nate, plays his horn and sets an atmosphere of peace and calm. But even that is not enough to keep Olivia from trying to harm herself when her despair becomes overwhelming. But in steps an angel, Maybelline, in the guise of a funny looking wig, gold teeth and a bodacious personality, something right out of a cartoon who intrudes in Olivia's life with her home-made pies. Olivia wants no part of Maybelline but soon learns she is not in control.

In Survival Instincts, Lynn Hayes is a librarian in a library slated to be torn down in one of the worst areas in of the city of New York. She is dedicated to the clientele there who she feels need the services. Walking to the bus stop late one evening she is attacked, her purse stolen and about to be raped when reporter Davis Manning happens by and scares off the attackers; but not before he is shot. Davis recovers quickly from his superficial wounds but while Lynn is forgiving of the young men he is bitter and wants them to pay for their deeds. Lynn, who was divorced by her husband because she could not have children, feels that the young men, especially one in particular is worth saving and refuses to give up on him. Can two people with such divergent views come to a happy medium?

These stories are recommended to those who enjoy inspirational reads with a romantic bent.

Dera Williams
APOOO BookClub
www.apooo.org

I really liked this book; took it on my cruise and really enjoyed them. I felt the lady in the first story was a bit snobbish; I understand that you should hold your own, but how can you if you cannot get the resources you need to make it? When I got to the end of that story, I was truly inspired; The second story made me feel that love is still attainable despite of mistakes you made in the past.the third story lets you know that you can receive hope after an illness and the fourth just kept hope alive; Good book; really enjoyed it;

Have a Little Faith is a four short-story compilation about faith, love and forgiveness. In (Thomas)Signs of Light gourmet bakery owner, Lorna Hamilton fears that she will never have the family of her heart's desire. But when she meets a single mother and her son, Brittany and Kendall, she realizes that the only things hindering her from having what she wants are her own prejudices and her lack of faith. In Billingsley's Faith will Overcome Faith Logan must overcome condemnation and a self-defeatist attitude, if she's ever going to get out of her dead-end job at the Super 8 Motel and leave Beaumont, Texas, a hometown that is suffocating her ambitions to own her own beauty salon. She doesn't realize her worth until she meets a man, who implores her to take back her life through God. In Maybelline(Mason)Olivia Phillips has overcome breast cancer, but not self-loathing. When she befriends noisy neighbor and busybody, Maybelline she surrenders to the possibility of a new life and embraces the love of a man who sees her for who God made her to be. In Survival Instincts(Kitt) Investigative reporter Davis Manning saves Librarian Lynette Hayes life. But-- surprisingly--Lynette's faith saves Davis' soul.

Lorna's dismissal of disenfranchised persons was realistic and the way she manifested God through Lorna's change was well written. Billingsley's story albeit reminiscent of Elect Rome Parks Almost Doesn't Count has a refreshing ending that follows Christian orthodoxy and is a great resolution for young readers. Mason's Maybelline has a twist that is a testimonial treat.
Survival Instincts is a nice and realistic conversion story. All stories blend together well and buttress the anthology's title. However, only two reinforces the point that woman shouldn't define themselves by maternity or husbandry, but by their faith.

"Signs of Light" by Jacquelin Thomas. Lorna scorns welfare recipients, especially young healthy baby factories who are the queens of the government dole. That is until she meets single mother Brittany and learns life from the perspective of those desperately in need.

"Faith Will Overcome" by Reshonda Tate Billinglsey. Her self worth remains in negative numbers as Faith feels only her body is interesting to a man. When Tyler rescues her from danger, she reacts as always thanking him with the only way she knows how, but to her shock he rejects her offer. Instead he wants her to see how much besides her body she offers people.

"Maybelline" by J.D. Mason. Olivia meets Q in a restaurant to plead with him to give her a second chance. He says it is over between them ever since she rejected his being there for her while she battled cancer last year. Her neighbor angelic Maybelline gives her a sweet potato pie that seems to help her with her depression while restaurateur and musician Nate admits he wants her even with her having only one natural breast.

"Survival Instincts" by Sandra Kitt. Lynn works in a dangerous part of town, but believes this is where she needs to be if she is to help those in need. When reporter Davis rescues her from a mugging, Lynn is forgiving while he demands retribution. Lynn tries to teach Davis that it takes caring people to help the young

These are four powerfully inspirational tales that star strong casts inside of deep story lines with the message of get involved to be part of the solution or remain indifferent and be part of the problem.

Harriet Klausner

HAVE A LITTLE FAITH is a collection of four inspirational short stories written by four great authors. Each story delivers its own message of faith, forgiveness, and hope with a touch of romance.

In Signs of Light by Jacquelin Thomas, judging a book by its cover is not always what it seems. Lorna Hamilton, owner of a thriving gourmet bakery, wants marriage and a family. Her store is located next door to a Social Services building. Each day as she looks out her store window and watches the young girls go into the building, she becomes full of contempt, until the day she meets a single mother who teaches her, through all darkness, signs of light will shine through.

In Faith Will Overcome by Reshonda Tate Billingsley, Faith Logan is told daily from her hateful grandmother, that she is worthless. Searching for love and because she doesn't love herself, she finds love in all the wrong places. After meeting Darius Williams, Faith wonders why he isn't sexually attracted to her like most men in her life. He shows her to love herself, she needs faith.

In Maybelline by JD Mason, Olivia is diagnosed with breast cancer; she shuns from her boyfriend. She doesn't know how to accept this change in her life, she thinks the best way is to handle it alone. After her surgery, Olivia finds solace in a neighborhood jazz bar, but the hopelessness she feels is too much for her to handle. After Olivia meets her angelic neighbor, Maybelline, she learns to accept the new changes in her life and possibly love.

Survival Instincts by Sandra Kitt, is a story about hope and faith. Lynn Hayes is a librarian in the worst part of town. She knows how dangerous it is to work there, but she wants to give back to the community. One night while leaving work, she is mugged and is rescued by Davis Manning, who later is shot by one of the attackers. They both suffer many tragedies in their lives. Lynn survives her tragedies through her forgiveness, faith and belief in God; Davis has lost his.

I took great pleasure in reading this inspiring collection of short stories. They were light reading with powerful messages.
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I read this book in one day,very good story line,four story with a good message,inspiration at its best.

Signs of Light- by Jacqueline Thomas
Signs of Light tells the story of Lorna a middle age, bakery owner who is financially secure. She has always wanted to be married, settle down and raise a family. Very negative, Lorna passes judgment on people just by sight. Her bakery is near a public aid office for mothers with dependent children, but to look at most of the mothers, their nails are done, every single hair in place, with designer clothes. She can't understand why these women can't simply get a job. But, what she doesn't know is the entire story in most cases. Will an unanticipated situation revamp Lorna's reality?

Faith will Overcome-by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Raised by mean spirited Grandma Pearl, Faith found herself on a hunt for love in all of the wrong places. She isn't a bad person, just a confused young lady that has a semi reputation. With aspirations of working as a salon owner, Faith is employed as a maid with her own place and only visits Grandma Pearl out of obligation. Every single man that has entered Faith's life, she believes wholeheartedly that he is "the one." Can it be that her true destiny has finally come?

Maybelline-by J D. Mason
A lot of times we as black women tend to push the people who love us the most aside. But, we do that because we're afraid of being hurt in the end. This is the case for Olivia Phillips. She's just fought a hard battle in her life and she's decided to go it alone, dismissing her long time boyfriend, Quinton. Wallowing in loneliness and self loathing, Olivia finds herself bonding with Maybelline, her talkative neighbor. Maybelline tells a great tale about everything not being as it seems.

Survival Instincts- by Sandra Kitt
Lynn is barren, divorced and one evening while leaving work late she's attacked. Luckily, Davis Manning, a passerby, helps. Lynn is able to return to work and take everything in stride with the belief that there is still some hope for her attackers. However, Davis can't seem to understand how she can act like that after what she's been through. Will Lynn be able to assist Davis?

HAVE A LITTLE FAITH is a compilation of great stories by great authors that come highly recommended by me. I was laughing, crying and even sharing one of these stories with the children in my Sunday school class. After you have read HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, I wonder if you can figure out which story it was. The title, HAVE A LITTLE FAITH is an excellent title because that is all we have, a little Faith!!!!!!

I got my recieved my book at that time expected. And the quality of the book was excellent!! I was very impressed by the quality of service, will do business with them again.

I truly enjoyed all of the stories in this book.
All of the authors are well known and accomplished writers they all have very different styles all of the stories were very good.
I would recommend this book to anyone I have passed it on to friends to read.

Great book. I love the fact that there different stories. I enjoyed each one and they made me think about my life in a better view.