Customer Reviews

Jade (Shades of Style, Book 2)

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

 

 

Jade is the second book in the Shades of Style series. Lily Chau is an aspiring fashion designer struggling with the desire to succeed and family obligations. Lily is given a chance to appear on a reality TV show, The Next Design Diva, but debates with her friends on whether or not she should compete. Once she makes a decision to participate, she almost backs out when she runs into the mysterious and intriguing Doug LaCroix. The chemistry between the two is so thick that you could cut it with a pair of scissors. Doug has his own set of issues to deal with and is surprised by the immediate attraction to Lily. Lily and Doug's relationship is tested many times. Only when they both grow in their faith in God will they be able to look past each other's faults and follow their personal and professional destiny. Griffith has penned a tale that shows the importance of trusting God in all areas of your life.

Lily Chau is the next member in the Garments of Praise team that we get to meet. She's in her late thirties, taking care of her sick mother, trying to get her foot into the fashion industry and trying to figure out her relationship with her boyfriend. She gets invited to compete in a Project Runway-like reality show with the help of a famous designer. Little does she know that the designer is the mysterious stranger that she keeps running into and finding a growing attraction with. Lily has to decide how she will manage her mother, her fashion, her boyfriends, and her life.

This is one of the first Christian fiction novels where there is an Asian American female lead character. AND she happens to not be an immigrant or someone living in the 1800s . There aren't many Asian Americans portrayed without any sort of stereotypes in books in general so this was a welcome relief. I felt that Lily's character was very real. I understand her insistence of taking care of her mother. Family is very important in Asian culture. Like in Pink, I enjoyed seeing the going ons behind the fashion industry. And I also loved that while Lily is slightly bothered at being almost 40 and still not married, she's still managed to create a name for herself and not be bothered too much by it. I liked the contrast in Doug and Ken. Lily's mom's story with her dad was very moving and sad. The only thing I didn't get was when Lily and Doug first met. The way it was written, Doug looked like a homeless person and Lily falls head over heels for him like that. Now maybe I'm just being paranoid, but if I was alone on a street and a stranger looking like that came up to me, I'd be a little scared. Lily just seemed like she had let her guard down completely which is not a safe thing to do in a city at night.

I really enjoyed this book. The series is great as it focuses on different ethnicities. I'm really looking forward to reading Tangerine.

There are some cultures that sacrifice in ways, some will never understand. Then there are children that make sacrifices for their family because of a promise they made while young, even if it means their own happiness. Jade by Marilynn Griffith is book two of the Shades of Style series. Jade is the story about Lily Chau.

Lily is Chinese-American and as a young adult she made a promise to her mother to always take care of her and never leave her. Lily works for Garments of Praise, where her co-workers, her friends, see more in Lily than she sees in herself. Jean Guerra thought it would be good to enter Lily into the Next Design Diva reality show. Will she allow her promise to get in the way of her happiness in creating clothes?

Lily has been dating Ken, a doctor for two years, and she hoped and dreamed for him to one day propose, but that was her dream not his. With Lily's mother, Su, having dementia and what seem to be signs of Alzheimer's, he did not want her to live with them, but Lily would never put her mother into a home. She made a promise that she intended to keep. When he tells her that he just could not take on the struggles of her mother, Lily realizes maybe love is not for her and she is destined to be alone.

Doug LaCroix is the mentor placed with Lily for the Next Design Diva program. Doug is a doctor, a missionary and a designer that disappeared after 9/11. He renewed his faith in God and went to different places trying to help and make a difference. However, returning to his designing days was not part of what he had planned. Then he meets Lily and realizes that they have more in common than just clothing design. Can he handle the new feelings that are running through his body?

I recommend this book to a reader that does not realize in order to fulfill a promise, you sometime have to accomplish your dream in order to feel complete. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub
www.apooo.org

Super Savvy Pattern Maker/Wanna-Be Fashion Designer Chick meets Super Rough Medical Mission Doctor/Ex-Fashion Designer Dude & they make smooth like jade in each other's lives.

Lily Chau is a very real character with some very real problems that I could totally relate to (eg. still being single in her late 30s, plagued by controlling/noncommittal/nominally-Christian men, being solely responsible for the health care of her elderly mother, etc.) &, while reading this latest installment in Griffith's "Shades Of Style" series, I kept being reminded of Rene Gutteridge's "My Life As A Doormat" ...

... which I think is a perfect companion book for "Jade," because these two powerful books, when read together = THE POWER OF GOD TO CHANGE A SEEMINGLY HOPELESS SITUATION INTO SOMETHING INCREDIBLE.

Not to mention that both these books have THE MESSAGE that women these days need so desperately to hear & that is:

The difference between a selfish man who looks good & appears to have it all together & a humble man who might, or might not, look good & who might, or might not, have it all together -- but who treats us right & who is willing to lay down his life for us -- is like the interminable distance between the East & the West ...

I also thought that, of all Griffith's novels (that have been released so far), "Jade" is the smoothest of them all & really showcases her ability & her ARRIVAL as a writer -- which is why I gave it 5 stars -- & which is why I am SO looking forward to good things from her in the future & can't wait for "Tangerine" & "Turquoise" to be released (& I have them both on pre-order!) \o/

Marilyn Griffith brings us another loveable character in the second book in the Shades of Style Series.

Lily Chau is a talented fashion designer at Garments of Praise. At work, Lily shares a close bond with three other talented, dynamic and multicultural women. These women not only work together, they support each other professionally and personally. And that's a good thing because things at home are not too good for Lily. Her mother is sick and caring for her is beginning to take over her life.

When Lily gets a chance to compete in the TV show, The Next Design Diva, she is thrilled and saddened all at the same time. How can she possibly compete and care for her ailing mother all at the same time. But a chance encounter with the elusive Doug LaCroix leads her to question her own abilities regarding her career, her family and her relationship with God.

As her "working" relationship with Doug LaCroix grows stronger, Lily finds herself questioning all aspects of her life. Soon she is on a spiritual quest that changes her relationship with God and her mother.

Marilyn Griffith's latest novel confirms that God is truly concerned about all areas of life.

Submitted by: Tonya S. Hall for the GoodGirlBookClubOnline and The GOOD GIRL Book Club Worldwide

I enjoyed reading Jade and getting to know Lily Chau, the main character, and all the other characters that make up this dynamic multicultural read. Lily and her friends at "Garments of Praise" share a strong supportive bond that would make any sister of any color proud to know or work with them. This story was told with such emotional drama that I could actually empathize with every difficult decision that Lily made.

I especially like the sensitive way that the relationship between Lily and her mother was handled. This novel also shows us that sometimes the very thing that we pray for is not necessarily the thing that we need or the thing that God wants us to have. Just like jade is a precious jewel, this novel is a precious gem.

Marilynn Griffith has again created characters that seemingly jump off the page and into your life and heart. Keep up the good work, Marilynn, and we'll keep buying and reading your books. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment in this series titled "Tangerine." I know it's going to be juicy fruit...

Barbara Joe-Williams
Author of "Falling for Lies"

Marilynn Griffith has written another winner. Jade is the second in her excellent Shades of Style series. Wow! What a writer she is! In Jade she's created an amazing, truly believable multi-culti ensemble cast unlike any other writer I know of. We get the wonderful people we grew to love in Pink, only we get to know them better.

I loved Lily Chau, and her struggles resonated deeply with me. I loved that both the characters of Lily and Jean introduced in Pink became so very real in Jade that they nearly leaped off the pages. Marilynn made the Garments of Praise sisterhood so real I wanted to get an application to work there. Jade delivers the best Marilynn Griffith books have to offer: fun, sassy, crafty Godchicks, gorgeous, sensuous language, a spicy romance, vivid imagery, masterful characterization, surprising, delightful plot lines, and lovely prayers--in short a fabulous read.

Can't wait to get my hands on Tangerine.

First of all, I love the name Jade so I was quickly drawn to the cover. This book is excellent in teaching us that though we count ourselves short and unworthy of great things, it doesn't mean that God has. I liked the main character because there was so much hidden talent in her that she didn't even realize because she let so many others distract her from her true potential. However, with great friends, a good man and faith in God she was able to go beyond her wildest dreams.

Great book. Fast reading. Real page turner. Marilynn Griffith is a great author. Her "Shades of Style" series is wonderful. Must reads.

This book was so refreshing in that it was a Christian book but dealt with REAL issues, sickness, and emotions. What blew me away was how sexy and passionate it read(I actually had to fan myself along with the characters!) without abandoning Christian principles. I haven't felt that breathless while reading in a very long time! This book is definately a keeper!