Customer Reviews

It's in My Blood

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

 

 

Rosalyn had a difficult childhood to say the least. Her mother covered up a secret to save face in the community. He father worked so much he missed the incident all together. As Rosalyn acted out, she became the talk of the neighborhood. Once she left town and landed in Houston, things didn't change much. As she should be celebrating the joy of motherhood, a terrible discovery was made right before the love of her life was killed. Facing her parents was inevitable but she found herself on the plane to Chicago anyway.

John and Naomi were happy to have their little girl home. But everything begins to unravel as Rosalyn started uncovering the mess she had made of her life. In a tale of forgiveness and change the Bell family puts their trust in God. As the story gears up outside influences work to bring a dysfunctional family together: Phoebe, Gianna, Lazarus and Solomon show consistent support for Rosalyn. While Marion and Howard work to destroy Rosalyn as they seek revenge for the death of their son.

Marks penned a story that weaves in family issues, dark secrets, and God's mighty grace. The story develops at an even pace while each chapter adds to the drama adding twists in a realistic tale. There are several editing mistakes which will be addressed in the second printing. The ending leaves several unanswered questions that may be answered in the sequel. Marks has written a story about HIV and the redemption of sins that God promises to everyone that embraces Him. Even with its shortcomings, this story is recommended for those that change is available for all that seek the Lord.

Note: This book was won during a facebook contest. This review was written without the request of the author.

Deltareviewer
Reviewing for Real Page Turners

It's In My Blood is about so many things... Heartache and family dysfunction. Anger and bitterness robbing people of peace. Pride keeping people from truly loving others. People believing money should give them special privileges. The loss of belief in yourself and in your future because of things that can't be changed about the past. It's all in there. I think the most powerful theme in the story parallels a book I recently finished, and that is this... hatred and Jesus Christ can't live in the same heart. One of them has to go.

Personally, I've not know families where such anger and secrets existed. However, I do know these types of family situations exist. That's the stuff soap operas are made of. I did have a hard time understanding the extreme bitterness between mother and daughter because it's not how my personality is, and it wasn't even before I knew Christ. On the other hand, I did understand the sense of betrayal from my many years of working with abused children.

There is no worse pain a child can feel that stemming from betrayal. Parents are supposed to protect their children and help them when they are hurting, not shove the situation under the carpet and pretend it never happened. When denial happens, ugly things develop in a relationship. This is what I saw happening between Naomi and Rosalyn. Their pain was expressed through a good portion of this book. Rosalyn's dad, John, didn't help matters by continually stepping between them. In fact, his behavior only made things worse, even though he was trying to help.

This book had a lot of drama from start to finish. While the main character's diagnosis was a big issue in the book, the focus of the story was more on relationships and the damage caused by bitterness. When forgiveness happens under such conditions, the beauty of it shines brighter. This story had great resolution on so many levels. Women who have strained relationships with their mothers might find this book particularly insightful as to what NOT to do, and how to move beyond the pain toward healing. I enjoyed this story.

IT'S IN MY BLOOD by Shawneda Marks is Rosalyn's story of love gone wrong. After finding herself pregnant and alone, she decides to go back home for a while and get herself together. During her visit, she discovers her job in Houston may be almost over and so she hunts for a job in Chicago. She finds one with a nice man as her boss.
Naomi, Rosalyn's mother, has a big secret she shares with Rosalyn. John, Naomi's husband and Rosalyn's father, would love to know what's going on but he has been left in the dark and it creates stress with his wife.

In the midst of all this, secrets are revealed. Some people are shocked; some use the secrets to help others.
Shawneda Marks has penned a book full of suspense and tension. Every time you think it's all going to be okay, another secret unfolds. It is a book of understanding and forgiveness, combined with `do the right thing'. It shows how God works in our lives for the best. I would highly recommend this book as a very good and helpful story.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

But there are some grammatical errors and loose ends. For example, what was the point of having Rebecca's ex-husband take Rosalyn to the airport? Was it just to show that another person had been changed by the power of Christ? Another example is, when did Rosalyn find out the the baby was a boy? Out of nowhere, she starts using the term, "my son." The author mentions body movements an excessive amount of times such as a person "rocking from side to side" or "staring over someone's head into empty space."

With all this said, the story did hold my attention and I was curious to see how it would end.

Ok I must admit that that I truly enjoy reading this story. I had to put it to the side for a minute to write a review because it was starting to upset me. I agree that Roslyn needs to grow up and work through the issues with her mother from their past. However, her mother is rude and judgemental. No one has put Naomi in check besides her father, who is her best friend in the next paragraph. Maybe it will get better as I continue that last few chapters but Naomi has yet to acknowledge her wrong doing besides that one incident. Roslyn has tried to be pleasant/respectful towards her mother but at times her mother makes it impossible. There are times when we have to simply accept people for who they are, we do not have to disrespect them but we can acknowledge their presence in a respectful way and leave it at that.

This is a great book and the storyline/plot of the story is amazing. I would recommend this book.

It's In My Blood by Shawneda Marks begins with a scene where Rosalyn attempts to committ suicide and ends with her tumultuous life becoming a testimony to the awesome power, grace, and mercy of God. The book is not only a page turner but it is more importantly,a thought provoking catalyst for aids awareness. Mrs. Marks draws us in and takes us on a detailed journey from the moment Rosalyn discovers she is pregnant and has aids, through her understanding of her condition, to her eventual reconciliation with the disease as well as with the people around her. It's In My Blood touches upon very sensitive issues which at its worst, provides valuable information for a painstaking cause,and at its best, transforms how we as Christians treat people. Hopefully, we learn from this book not only how to treat people with the disease, but how to refrain from judging people as well.It's In My Blood gives us the courage to live, forgive,and be born again.


Ashea Goldson (Christian fiction author)
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Rosalyn, has everything as a child growing up in chicago she had good parents until one day something happen in her life that she turn her back on her mother. Naomi was a good mother until the night when rosy was rape and her mama didn't do nothing about it, rosy felt that her mama could have save her and turn her back on her. Rosalyn love God but she felt God didn't save her just like she felt about her mother, but God was still there for her and she had to learn that he still love her. A pwerful story.

Unfortunately, this is going to be a mixed-feeling review. There are some ups and some downs to reading this book. The ups are: it was a good book with a wonderful message of God's forgiving grace and redemption. It's full of love and sorrow but it's also full of happy times and God, making that the positive side to this book.

The downs: it's poorly edited. With it being poorly edited I felt that it took away from focusing on the story, as I had to keep going back and telling my mind what it should have said or where the punctuation should have been. For example, here is just one of many lines (taken straight from the book) that are poorly edited: "I don't know when I called back no one answered and I wasn't given the option to leave a message." To me, that was just one big, long, run-on sentence. I think it should have been edited and stated like this: " I don't know. When I called back, no one answered, and I wasn't given the option to leave a message." I don't know. I just really feel bad about this review. I really don't like to give negative reviews, but at the same time, I believe in honesty.

That all being said, I will have to give this book a 3 star rating. If it was edited better then, perhaps, I could give it 4 stars as I feel that this book did have a wonderful message from God in it. And the author deserves some praise for created a story with that message in it.

Even though this books has a strong message.....it was too long and drawn out...not a page turner, it took me forever to read.