Customer Reviews

Living Consequences (Urban Christian)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Living Consequences by Brittney Holmes is a wonderful debut novel written by a sixteen year-old. From page one, I found myself caught up in the life of Nevaeh Madison, a seventeen year-old virgin, with every intention of remaining one. Nevaeh tries to live by bible teachings and has made a pact with Ronald, her boyfriend of three years, to not have sex until married. Her best friend, Shimone, has no problems with sex outside of marriage, though she believes in sexual exclusivity within a relationship. When Shimone finds herself pregnant, her biggest concern is will her mother kill her and will her boyfriend, Marques, the campus `playa', remain by her side. Sierra Monroe is a motherless girl whose father's only interest seems to be earning money. Sierra does not know God, so she spends her time trying to find love and acceptance in the arms of any guy interested. These young people have adult decisions to make and they all learn that faith and prayer have answers and solutions.

Ms. Holmes does an amazing job of showing how young people struggle with choices and how dire the consequences can be if the wrong choices are made. Especially wonderful is how she deals with Christian youth. Her portraits are so realistic. The young people are interested in the same things all young people find appealing. The difference is in how they use faith and prayer to deal with the problems that befall them. I loved reading the passages when the families and friends prayed with and for each other. This is one of the most realistic portrayals I have read of young people struggling with what the world expects and what they know to be right. This is a recommended book for anyone interested in what is happening in the minds and hearts of today's youth or to parents concerned with what their young people are reading. Brittney Holmes offers a wonderful solution.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO Book Club

Before reading Living Consequences, I had preconceived notions about the book. I thought that since the book was written by a teenager that I wouldn't be able to identify with the storyline. That was not the case. The main character, Nevaeh Madison, promised to maintain her virginity until marriage. I liked Nevaeh because she was well-rounded and level-headed. She was the type of daughter any mother would be proud of...honor student, cheerleader and respected by her peers. She's been dating her boyfriend, Ronald, for nearly three years. Sexual tensions arise and their relationship is put through the test.

Nevaeh's best friend, Shimone, wasn't quite that wholesome. She had a loving mother who was raising Shimone in a single parent household. Like a lot of teenagers, Shimone was sexually active with her boyfriend. When faced with adversity, Shimone demonstrated maturity and strength.

Losing her mother at age two and then being neglected by her father causes Sierra Monroe to find comfort and pleasure in the wrong places. After giving herself to so many men, she finds that her actions have major consequences. As these characters go through very different dilemmas, they will learn lifelong lessons and soon find that only God's love and forgiveness can carry them through the hard times.

I highly recommend this book. Living Consequences will help parents gain insight into the world of teenagers today. Teenagers should read this book to help give them perspective that for every action there is a consequence.

Brittney Holmes' debut title LIVING CONSEQUENCES covers the lives of several teenagers and the situations they find themselves trying to navigate. Neveah Madison is an honor student focused on doing well in school, but she is also committed to remain a virgin until marriage. She has the normal ups and downs of a teenager, but she is covered by her faith in God and upbringing. Even though her boyfriend has promised to also remain a virgin, he begins to pressure her to take their relationship further and they must both deal with the repercussions.

Meanwhile, Shimone and Sierra have problems of their own. Shimone is Neveah's best friend and believes in monogamous relationships, but she's unsure of how her boyfriend is going to react when he finds out about her pregnancy. He's known around school for his inability to remain faithful. As for Sierra, she has no qualms with her various sexual activities and seems to reach out to boys to provide her the love missing from her relationship with her father. They all must make some very hard decisions, ones which will impact their lives forever.

Though only sixteen when this story was written, Holmes has done a wonderful job of outlining the problems and insecurities teenagers are faced with in their young lives and how one's faith helps make any situation better. The book also demonstrates how one must deal with the consequences of all decisions made and learn from them. What I really loved about LIVING CONSEQUENCES is the realness of the story. I related as an adult and know younger readers will also, because I could easily recall my teenage years and similar trials. The characters were well-developed and endearing. And, the story itself is uplifting, in that the families supported each other and strongly relied on God's guidance to get through things.

LIVING CONSEQUENCES comes highly recommended and has been one of my favorite reads for the year. I would encourage every family with teenage children or those who are educators (in or outside their churches), to read this book and discuss it with our youth.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I made the mistake of reading the first pages of LIVING CONSEQUENCES while at work. The story is so juicy that I couldn't wait to read it on my lunch break. Even though I was risking by job, I simply could not resist the urge to sneak in a few pages here and there while I was supposed to be working at my desk.

It is often said that there aren't enough positive books on the shelves geared toward young adults. LIVING CONSEQUENCES is a book about young adults written by a young adult. The author, BRITTNEY HOLMES, is a high school teen. Quite frankly, her debut novel puts some of the adult writers to shame. Such a talent! No matter what your age is GET THIS BOOK!

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters and the relationship the characters had with God. Not expending the depth that the story line plunged into, I was really caught up with the reading and finished the book in two days! Every chance I had to read, I took full advantage and completed with great satisfaction.

I bought this for my son who is incarcerated instead of all the other kinds of novels I understand that is read and he really enjoyed it. I didn't know what it was about, just read the little preview and picked it.

I'm 17 and I really loved this book. It really expressed what teens are going though sexually, especially Christians. I loved how Nevaeh broke up with Ronald after he tried to have sex with her,realizing that she needed to focus on God more. Of course I was equally glad when they got back together, Ronald more serious about his relationship with God and Nevaeh.
LOVED Corey! man I hope I find a guy like him! The story had alot of drama and good times, and I really enjoyed the relationship between Shimone and her boyfriends parents. Great book!

This book was an easy read and contains some lessons that many young adults could stand to learn. I think that it could easily open up dialog between teens and parents, helping both sides understand some of he concerns that the other may have. I can imagine that there are teens today that face some of the same hard choices and tough situations faced by the teenage characters in this book. A few adults might even see themselves in the adult characters and how they react or handle the situations that each family unit faces.

I would like to say congratulations to Brittney on her first book. This was a wonderful book that deals with real life issues all day, every day. If Brittney continues she will have much success just like her Mom. Brittney, keep doing what you do, keep up the excellant writing, and may God continue to Bless you.

A Letter to My Sisters: The Way Out
Congratulation on your first book. It deals with real issues that teenagers must face. These characters have a good support system in their peers and their parents. It is good to see young people with ideals and goals that are reachable. Brittney shows some of the temptations teens are often faced with, and gives them viable solutions. The media today wants to portray our young people as sensuous, lusting and sex starved. That is not true. There are many well balanced, intelligent, future movers and shakers of society being formed.