Jamerican Connection [Paperback]

Sandra A. Ottey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2001

In a quaint, English-looking rural town on Jamaica's Southern coast Rose Thorn struggles with her conniving, controlling, abusive husband, Donovan, to claim her right to realize the deferred educational dreams and stunted career ambitions she was forced to put on hold, when Rose had gotten pregnant and had to drop out of school during her final high school year.

Laverne Fine struggles with her doubts concerning her lover, Paul's, true identity and nationality; but Paul's Brooklyn-based mother has a lead-heavy hand in guarding their family secrets.

Wendy Arnold crumples under the escalating obstacles of her long-distance relationship with her Jamaica-based high school sweetheart, Miles. In the express lane to middle-age both want to marry each other and immediately start a family; but neither of these two lovers is willing to uproot.

The lives of these three Jamaican women, each with her unique connection to America, are woven into an engrossing tangled web of lies, suspense, infidelity, deceit, spousal abuse and betrayal. Long distance relationships are tested and tried; the true value of female friendships and mentorship is proven; and the advantages of immigration are weighed against the disadvantages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jamerican Connection" is one of those books you can curl up with and finish in a few days. -- New York Trend Book Review

An excellent thriller about life in the Caribbean... -- Everybody's Magazine

For women who have experienced the pain of deception and abuse, and hearing the age-old excuse..."It Wasn't Me," JAMERICAN CONNECTION will definitely connect. -- The Weekly Gleaner (N.A.), May 3, 2001

Ottey's skill as a writer engages the reader completely. She is stingingly accurate. -- Caribbean Life Newspaper

The characters have interesting developments in their lives. "Jamerican" is crafted to artfully weave them all into a riveting novel. -- The Sunday Gleaner

The intertwining plots are interestingly suspenseful. "Jamerican Connection" is refreshing true-to-life reading material, in comparison to the books I've read. -- WHCR FM Radio

From the Author

Writing this story has been the greatest challenge of my life, not to mention my attempts at getting my work in print. It took me approximately six years (part-time) to complete this magnificent project, which I sometimes refer to as 'my baby.'

No matter which other book I may write , "JAMERICAN CONNECTION" will always be the first, and the one story that I'll forever hold closest and dearest to my heart.

One of my reasons for writing this story was to reiterate the fact that life has so many obstacles, disappointments, twists and turns. Things don't always turn out to be just as we planned.

To high-school dropouts: you CAN go back and pick up from where you left off. It may be rough; but with persistence, at least one good friend, a mentor, (but most importantly, with YOUR determination), you CAN pull yourself up, dust yourself off, and STILL go on to realize your life's dreams, goals and career aspirations, despite life's deviations.

I also addressed an issue that too many people tend to sweep under the rug....SPOUSAL ABUSE. IT EXISTS!! It's a shame, but it does. So I'm very glad to have given this sickness some exposure. Hopefully the proper authorities will assist the abused when they call for help, and that they will treat the abusers like they do any other criminal.

Also, on the subject of immigration...it has it's advantages and disadvantages. People immigrate for several different reasons. But immigration (though it may turn out to be beneficial in the long run), does put some strain on family lives and relationships.

Thanks to each and every one of you who have already, or plan on purchasing my first novel (my 'baby'). May you find strength, inspiration, and/or motivation in even some small way.

Blessings,

Sandra A. Ottey

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Showcase Press (January 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595161588
• ISBN-13: 978-0595161584
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,115,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Debut Novel!!!, September 15, 2001

By 

ChickLitGurrl™ "Shonell Bacon" (Lake Charles, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jamerican Connection (Paperback)

Jamerican Connection, Sandra Ottey's debut novel, tells the stories of three women whose lives are intertwined by friendship, relationships, lies, infidelity, abuse, and a host of other dramas.

Rose Thorn dreamt of a life that included a college education and a successful career, but dropping out of high school to have a baby dashed those dreams. Now, Rose finds herself trapped in an abusive marriage with no way out...though more and more she vows to find one.

Laverne Fine is a cosmetologist and Rose's best friend. Her two main goals are to one, get a visa so that she may travel abroad and perhaps reap in the opportunities to blossom in her career; and two, to uncover the truth surrounding her lover's identity and nationality.

Wendy Arnold is beyond successful in her career. She has the degrees, the accolades and the prestige, but as she reaches the big 4-0, she finds herself panicking, wanting desperately to persuade her long-distance love, Miles to move from Jamaica to Brooklyn in order to live together, get married, and have children.

Jamerican Connection is a very interesting read. I enjoyed being immersed in both the American and Jamaican cultures. I quickly flipped through the novel to find out how Rose's intriguing story would go. As you read the novel, you will find yourself rooting for the women, who all have their own distinct voices. You will hate Rose's husband, and probably have disgust for most of the men IN the book, because you get the sense that they have no respect for women as they cheat and some even get the brass ring at the end after all of their cheating and lies.

Regardless of that, the novel is a fast-paced story that will pull the reader in to the web of drama that unfolds.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT READING...SUPERB WRITING..., July 13, 2001

By 

Shanla, an engineer (Los Angeles, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jamerican Connection (Paperback)

I read JAMERICAN CONENCTION:A Novel during my summer vacation in Greece. I really appreciate how the story flows fluidly from chapter to chapter. Although the story was based in Jamaica and America I always knew where I was because the writing style was superb and clear; (you don't always find that even in best-selling books). Also, people of all educational levels would enjoy reading the story. The characters still linger in my mind and I think that Ms. Ottey should probbaly consider writing a sequel???

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE BETTER BOOKS I'VE READ, June 19, 2001

By 

Meredith Crayon (Long Island City, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jamerican Connection (Paperback)

As a Caribbean immigrant JAMERICAN CONNECTION really took me back home to the blue waters and white sandy beaches. As a high school dropout myself the book motivated me to go register for a course. The spousal abuse was so detailed, especially the rape scene and the abduction from the office. For a first book Ms. Ottey did a splendid job.