Customer Reviews

Mama's Girls (Sepia)

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

 

 

What seems like a simple story of three sisters raised by their maternal grandmother, Mama Laurel, in Cleveland, Ohio turns out to be a complicated mix of personalities and situations resulting in the attempted suicide of the youngest sister. To further complicate matters, is the paternal grandmother's arrival from North Carolina after the suicide attempt.

Mama Laurel and Gram Naomi hate each other; neither could ever agree on how to raise the children "properly." Because of buried secrets and the need to protect the family name, Olivia, the baby of the girls, is forced to forge ahead, forget about it, say nothing! Unable to handle her grief, she attempts suicide. The suicide attempt is what brings each character full circle. Realizing their behavioral flaws and what part they may have played in the suicide attempt, each woman has some sort of resurrection so that the healing can begin for all.

McCarthy Louard has written a plausible novel with characters that you love to hate and characters that you care about and root for. She is able to pull you into their lives with some action packed drama. This is a good novel from a first time novelist because it exposed a topic that is not often discussed honestly and intelligently.......Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves, APOOO BookClub

I liked this novel on many fronts: it was an emotional read, it was well written and it was filled with timely examples of getting beyond the pains and issues in our life. When I read the last page and closed the book, I was smiling because it was a "feel good" book to me.

It made me feel good that a debut writer had taken the time to involve me into all the characters lives, characters that rang true and were three dimensional. It made me feel good that the resolutions weren't pat and the situations and the emotions were fully explored. It made me feel good that the book reaffirmed that love and the love of family can conquer even when family members don't necessary have all the answers or even the right ones.

I truly enjoyed this novel by Janette McCarthy Louard. She is a an author to watch and I am looking forward to many more stories from her.

Peace,
Margaret Johnson-Hodge
author of "True Lies"

I really enjoyed reading Mama's Girls. I had been looking forward to reading this book because I had heard so much about it. Once I got the opportunity to read it I was captivated. It was difficult to put it down because I wanted to get to the end quickly. This book tells the story of family love and what we are all encouraged to do, help one another in times of crises. The Bible tells us to love each other as we love ourselves. Louard illustrated that we should all put a high priority on family. Although, the characters portrayed in this book did not appear to be extremely close in the beginning, their love for each other brought them to a point where they were willing to sacrifice everything for the love of family. I believe the author did an excellent job portraying each character. I am especially drawn to Brynne, the oldest of the three sisters. She is going through a time of renewal and she is willing to take some risks to discover her true self. Grandma Laurel is a lot like many of the West Indian grandmothers and mothers I know. They have a strong resolve and they will go to the ends of the earth for their families. Laurel is further characterized as a strong, independent and feisty woman who took on the tremendous task of raising her three granddaughters. It is Laurel's faith in God that takes her through the ordeal she is confronted with. Congratulations Janette McCathy Louard for penning such a great first novel. I loved the ending and I am looking forward to the sequel.

I read this book in two days. It would've been one but I was quite sick.In fact I know it made me feel better. This book grips you from the fist page. It begins with the death of the girls' parents' in an automobile accident. And they were raised by their maternal grandmother. And loved from far by their paternal grandmother who lived in another state. I loss both my parents' a day apart in 2000. This book made me realize how lucky I was to have my parents for 44 years. These girls were quite young when their parents died.I highly recommend this book to everyone to read. I even recommended it to my online bookclub. All the characters in the book were so realistic and each reader can identify with these women. The storyline was so realistic.Brynne,Camille and Olivia are the three sisters. Mama Laurel and Gram Naomi were the grandmothers. This book is a must read.Pam

This debut author did a wonderful job in penning a heartfelt story. This story is centered on three sisters: Brynne, Camille and Olivia. These three women were raised by their grandmother (Mama Laurel), after their parents were killed in an automobile accident. Brynne seems to have the perfect life of every person's dream, a successful career and a wonderful endearing husband. But, Brynne is not satisfied with her life ... she feels some sort of emptiness deep inside. Camille is a drop dead gorgeous woman who can have any man falling at her feet. Unfortunately, Camille has gotten involved with a man, which she can't break away from. Olivia is the baby of the family. She's been struggling since her parents death. Olivia's last crisis brings Gram Naomi (paternal grandmother) to town. Gram Naomi despised Mama Laurel and promised everyone she would never return to Cleveland, Ohio. But, that strong love for her granddaughter brings her back in town.

The women of this story will be faced with many challenges. The five women are dealing with problems and realize they need one another in order to make it and pull through. Janette McCarthy Louard does a wonderful job of portraying a family struggling, but through God and each other all things are possible. The family bonds and gives one another enormous strength. I couldn't put the book down and still yearned for more in the end. I look forward to more books by Janette McCarthy Louard!

Mama's Girls was such a delightful read. The author makes you feel as if you are one of the family. I found it hard to put this book down and was left wanting more following the last page. What is to become of these sisters and where does the future take them? Congratulations to Janette McCarthy Louard's first novel. May there be many more.

i absolutely loved reading this book!!! i felt like i knew the characters. i have read this book more than once! it is one of my favorite books of all time!!

Too many people think a book about African-American families would only be read by African-Americans. With that thought there will be a lot of readers who would miss the opportunity to read a superbly written story about family interactions, modern women, and the unique bond of sisterhood.

Ms. McCarthy Louard has the ability to draw you in immediately and make you feel as if you are part of the Darling family. Her talent brings you into each one of their trials to the point where it is difficult to put the book down. The intensity of the emotions is compelling, but the book is so well-written that you do not experience any drags at all.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well constructed and enjoyable book with individual characters who linger in your memory long after the book is finished.

I enjoyed reading this book. The author touches subjects that haunt many families, and it also shows how families stick together in times of trouble.