Customer Reviews

The Last Ten Percent

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There really are no words to describe how awesome God is and how he has used Michelle to bring quality fiction to women of this century. This book tackles friendship, racial issues, dating, marriage, womanhood, motherhood, generational concerns, and most importantly having a relationship with Jesus. I sat down to read this book and did not move. Four hours later I was done, and ready to read it again. If you are looking for something new, fresh, exciting, real, without perversion or profanity, this is for you!

The "Diva" author of Christian relationships has taken the principles and life lessons that she wrote about in her twenty non-fiction books and turned them into a novel. The Last Ten Percent by Michelle McKinney Hammond explores dating in the 21st century. She recognizes dating and marriage is difficult, but when you are trying to lead a Godly life, the challenges are somewhat different. While she could not cover the gamut of relationship issues, the four sister/friends featured in this novel deal with some of the more pressing issues.

Tracy is single, beautiful, well dressed and a successful businesswoman. So why can't she find a good man? The novel opens with Tracy witnessing her current boyfriend in a romantic tryst with another woman. Instead of getting mad and storming into the restaurant, she decides to take a sabbatical from dating. Focused on her career and her friends, Tracy finds that loving her self can be just as rewarding as seeking love from another.

Following the example set for by her mother, Adrian is the picture of the perfect wife, As the homemaker, she keeps the house clean, dinner on the table and is available to her husband at all times. When he leaves her for another woman, she makes changes in her appearances and lifestyle. The changes make her a more appealing woman and gives her the courage to go out and fight for what is hers. .

Felicia is another beautiful single woman and unlucky in love. She has been hurt so many times by so many different men, she decides to cut her losses before she can be hurt again. Felicia has a secret. When her boyfriend, the renowned plastic surgeon finds out, she finds he is just not going to walk out of her life, no matter how hard she pushes.

Muriel was so traumatized by the actions of her college boyfriend, that she has not been involved in a relationship since her sophomore year of college. Now, hitting close to forty, she is introduced to the perfect man. Muriel has a lot of baggage that she holds in front of her, but Brad is committed and breaks down every barrier she puts up. Once, Muriel is frees herself of her past, she finds that she can love this man just as much as he loves her.

McKinney-Hammond covers the topics of male/female relationships, single parenting, interracial dating, building self-esteem and date rape. One thing this reader really liked was that although not all the women were Christians but the author was able to use biblical principles for each woman's situation. With their various backgrounds, each situation was viewed differently demonstrating that dating in these times is difficult no matter Christian or not. I would have liked for there to have been less telling and more showing by having the characters use more dialogue. While this reader has not read any of this author's non-fiction books, I have heard her speak and found her to be interesting and many of the things she spoke about I see she used in this novel. I think Ms McKinney Hammond makes a fine transition from non-fiction to fiction. . I am now anxious to pick up one of her previous books.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
Motown Review Book Club

Now this is some soul-stirring fiction. Spiritual truth brought out by the perils experienced by five gorgeous women who all struggle with the same thing...the meaning of true love. As each woman suffers through their individual trials, they learn to trust each other, and more importantly, they find God in the midst of their pain. Though I think the author had one too many characters' points of view, overall the story was fabulous. I felt their pain, longed for healing in their futures, and grew with them in my heart. Ms. Hammond has a gift for conveying the true struggles most women have in regards to matters of the heart. She does it in such a smooth way that you feel like you learned something, yet it was so seamlessly woven into the story itself, that it's not obvious. I loved the sistah' teasing and the cultural snap she brought out in their relationships. Of all the chick lit I've read this past year, this one really pulls you in. I want to read a sequel because I feel like these ladies are my friends. I want to see them get married and grow with them some more. I didn't want the story to end, yet the conclusion was truly satisfying and didn't leave me hanging. Though far from perfect, each woman in this story developed true inward beauty, and for that, I feel blessed to have been a part of their spiritual journey. This is not a sappy, preachy attempt to convey Christian themes to the reader. The Last Ten Percent deals with the humiliating, ugly things in life and brings the reader to the point where they want to see these ladies find love in Christ alone. I can't say enough great things about this story. It's a must read in my book! Check it out!

MMH has taken another major step to greater things in the lord......
No words to describe this book. Could not put this book down, finsihed it in 2days!!!!!. MMH is a blessing and sure is leaving a mark that will affect generations. Please ladies read this book. Its like taste and see that the Lord is good. It blessed me tremendoulsy.....

while reading this book, i was able to see myself in a lot of the characters....bad choices in relationships, anger at men in general because of what one did, compromise, regaining my strength from a break-up, standing in front of his house and waiting (oops, i hope i didn't give away too much information or reveal that at one time i was crazy enough to do that....help me lord!!!)...but the beauty i've found is that now waiting for GOD's best for me is what i really want...the wait has been a little testing at time...but why "sell myself short".......

so thank you michelle AGAIN....can you please stop talkin' to JESUS and putting me on blast in your writings....i'd really appreciate it!! this book is a must read!!!

:)

Michelle McKinney Hammond crosses over into the world of fiction with her debut fiction title THE LAST TEN PERCENT, a well-written tale about five women and their struggles with relationships and men. On the surface each of the ladies appear to be any man's dream. Adrian is the perfect wife. She puts her husband and her home above everything but God, conforming to whatever her husband wants. She has happily given up her interests for the interests of her husband. All the women look at Adrian and think she has the perfect life. What they don't realize is that no one's relationship is perfect.

Tracy is an advertising executive whose view of men is clouded by her need to make everyone beautiful. After having her heart broken yet again she realizes that she is the common denominator in all her failed relationships. Determined to find the lasting love she deserves, Tracy decides that some things must change and she starts with herself. Tracy's cousin Felicia is beautiful and has no problem getting a man's interest but once in a relationship her insecurities surface and cause problems. She is on a search for the love that was missing from her childhood, but must learn to place these feelings aside so that she will be prepared for a new relationship that will change her life.

While Tracy and Felicia are looking for love, Muriel is doing all she can to stay away from it. She has built up walls to keep out any man who is interested and would rather spend her time working. Carla, one of Muriel's friends, has other ideas and persuades her to help a friend find and decorate his new home. He turns out to be different from any man Muriel has dealt with before and she may have just met her match. Meanwhile, Carla appears to be happily married to the man of her dreams, but deep inside she is worried that God is punishing her for sins committed in the past. With a devoted husband by her side, Carla must decide whether she is going to move forward or remain stuck in the past.

In THE LAST TEN PERCENT Hammond has done a wonderful job creating characters that the reader will become attached to and care about. The situations and experiences are all real life situations that many women have experienced themselves. She also steps outside the stereotypical mold of making all men the bad guy by providing positive male characters. This is one novel that will entertain you while delivering a message of encouragement along the way.

Reviewed by Criss Coles
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

"The Last Ten Percent" by Michelle McKinney Hammond is a divinely intriguing read. Having not read any of Ms. Hammond's prior non-fiction treatises, I came to this book with an open mind as I would with any debut novel. I must say straightaway that this was one of the best fiction novels I've read this year.

"The Last Ten Percent" follows the lives of five women who are friends either socially or through church as they deal with a gamut of issues from personal growth and seeking a romantic relationship to dealing with relationships - familial and romantic- that they already have.

Tracy is a successful, thirty-something woman who grew up in a loving family with a very involved father. Tracy has little patience for men who don't treat her like the princess that she knows herself to be and thus has bounced from relationship to relationship looking for the perfect match. With the support of her girlfriends and a good guy friend, Tracy goes on a personal journey to discover her path to true happiness.

While Tracy is looking for the man who can live up to the beautiful image she saw in her father and in her parent's marriage, Tracy's cousin Felicia is still looking for the love she never truly received from her busy, socialite parents. Still trying to live up to image of perfection her mother has embodied and demanded from Felicia, Felicia is a bit of a tortured soul who has bounced from man to man looking for the love she's always craved.

At the extreme opposite end of the spectrum from Felicia, Muriel has watched the travails of her friends Tracy and Felicia from a distance with a bit of disdain. Muriel learned early while in college that men can't be trusted. She's deeply buried her softer side that desires love between a tough, ice-cold exterior that no man has been able to penetrate. With the help of her dear friend and sister-in-Christ Carla, however, Muriel is seeing cracks forming in her armor-tight exterior and may find that in addition to the love affair she has with Christ that some men still have good intentions in the romance arena.

While helping Muriel face her inner demons, Carla is forced to reckon with some demons from the past herself. Though happily married and a wonderful friend to many, Carla has to deal with some issues from the past that are still impending full joy in her life. Though initially friends with Muriel, Carla benefits from the gifts of the other women as well, including the true rock of the group Adrian.

Presumably happily married, Adrian seems to have all that the other women aspire to knowingly or unknowingly. However, the happy exterior is not all it seems to be as everyone sees when Adrian's husband leaves her unexpectedly. Adrian is forced to draw on her faith and the strength she has always used to uplift others to see herself through this unexpected trauma.

As all of these women face daily struggles, author Michelle McKinney Hammond finely crafts a mature faith-based novel in which these women learn the joys and wonder of true friendships and faith in God. I hope that Ms. Hammond will continue to treat us to her fiction and non-fiction gifts for years to come. I'm certainly a new fan.

In the past, I've enjoyed Michelle McKinney Hammond's non-fiction books. When I heard she had written a fiction book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Needless to say, I was not disappointed when I picked up THE LAST TEN PERCENT. In between the pages, readers are introduced to ladies with various backgrounds (single and married, black and white). Tracy, Felicia and Muriel are single. Each come with their own set of baggage. They all assume that married people like Adrian and Carla have perfect lives. It seems that they all have their own set of secrets but secrets have a way of revealing themselves. Adrian's life is turned upside down, but it amazes her friends how she handles things. When they look deeper, they realize her strength comes from God. Although Muriel has a relationshp with God, she struggles with issues from her past. Tracy must embrace her singlehood in order to move forward. Felicia's joy comes from unexpected sources. Carla's giving spirit has her taking on the worries and concerns of others, while not facing her own past.

The Last Ten Percent is a story about friendship, faith, and living a godly life. Hammond did a great job for her first fiction novel. I look forward to reading more from her.

I may be biased but I love any and everything by Mrs. Hammond When I stumbled upon this novel by her, it took me no time to purchase it...and it was on Kindle. The inspiration, even through a novel gave me just what I needed! Please read!

I love how it started from beginning to end.
Very interesting and the situation around the characters are realistic as well.
I truly enjoyed this novel.