Customer Reviews

In the Name of Love

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In Ms. Sammie Ward's book, In the Name of Love, we are introduced to Derrick Rawlings and Dr. Shari Thomas. Although, they are from two completely different backgrounds, they were once college sweethearts. However, they have not spoken to each other in six years.

Derrick, after leaving town, is forced to return to run the family business after his father suffers a massive heart attack. Although Derrick had no problems running the business, he did not want to be back home. There was a certain person he wanted to avoid at all costs.

Shari is living her dream. She is a very successful doctor, owning half of a medical practice. She has a love interest in Dr. Kevin Mason, who loves her and her son, Christian. Kevin wants to become a major part in both Shari and Christian's life.

However, after a chance meeting at a fundraising event, old feelings are resurfaced between Derrick and Shari. As they attempt to rekindle the love they once had, secrets are brought to the light that may jeopardize their chance at happiness.

If you are a fan of romance novels, I recommend reading this book.

Reviewed by Shaquitta Leday
APOOO BookClub

"Sammie Ward has penned a charming novel entitled In The Name of Love. It is a wonderfully written love story about Dr. Shari Thomas a proud owner of a thriving medical practice and Derrick Rawlings, the successful president of Rawlings Industries, a family owned computer business. They originally met and began their romance in college. Both were career oriented and from two totally different backgrounds."

"This is a romantic story of a love relationship that was once destroyed due to a misunderstanding. That separates these soul mates for six years until they encounter each other at a charity event and their lives become intertwined once again. This chance meeting begins the unfolding of several hidden secrets."

"It is ultimately revealed in the story that Shari gave birth to Derrick's son after their relationship ended unbeknownst to him. After Derrick overcomes his anger about being kept in the dark about his son, he reaches out to Shari with hopes of becoming a family for the sake of their son."

"Old feelings began to resurface between the two and hidden secrets are exposed as Shari and Derrick attempt to reestablish their relationship."

"A great love story that shows that love can conquer all. This is a story for all the romantics at heart."

Thank goodness love is stronger than pride, because pride will leave you nothing but lonely. Such is the case with Shari and Derrick, who spent years apart and "faking the funk" with other people, knowing how truly miserable they each were. When they were together in college, it was electric and you could almost see the sparks fly. However, when Derrick witnesses an "accidental" kiss between Shari and his friend Carlton, in his mind, it is unforgivable and he rushes off to London to escape the hurt and pain of betrayal.

Derrick is forced to return years later because of his father's illness. However, his ex-girlfriend Mia is bound and determined to make sure Derrick and Shari do not get back together. The plots she and her current "boyfriend" concoct are pretty dirty and the lengths the two will go to just to get what's not theirs is oftentimes hilarious. Even as Shari considers taking Derrick back after a tumultuous re-connection, she still can't trust his intentions. Does he love her or is it that she has something of his that means more to him than even her love? Derrick's mother, who never thought Shari was good enough for her baby in the first place, further complicates matters.

Sammie does a superb job in conveying the raw emotions of betrayal. Shari knows in her heart she never meant to hurt Derrick, but Derrick's pride doesn't allow him to see past his own hurt. I like reading about normal folks experiencing everyday problems. Shari struggled while going to school to become a doctor and now has a new, professional man, a lovely home and all the wonderful trappings of a middle class life. What more could a woman want? When Derrick resurfaces, everything she thought was clear in her life now seems cloudy. Sammie's characters are real and never perfect, which makes In the Name of Love even more compelling. Will Derrick and Shari get past their pain or will they let pride take the place of their love? A great read, Sammie!

Dreams of forever are often accompanied by nightmares from the past...

At least, Derrick Rawlings and Shari Thomas would agree. After years of being apart, the two are suddenly reunited: having achieved remarkable success as a London businessman, Derrick returns to his roots in Arkansas to take over the reigns of Rawlings Industries, the family business, after his father suffers a heart attack and retires. Running into Shari again, Derrick initially shuns her due to the broken heart she left him with, but upon discovering that she bore him a son in his absence, he quickly welcomes her and their child back into his life, honored to be given a chance at fatherhood.

But not so fast: the conniving Mia, the living embodiment of "Never take no for an answer," refuses to be rejected by Derrick in favor of his rekindled romance with Shari, and the flame that she continues to carry for him soon threatens to burn their union down in an inferno of unresolved, unchecked passion.

On top of all this, a long-hidden Rawlings family secret soon re-emerges, adding fuel to the fire as an additional impediment to Derrick and Shari's fate - and, as cruel as it seems, having been committed by Derrick's own father years ago, solely in the name of love.

As the story unfolds, it seems nearly impossible that the reunited lovers will be able to overcome the obstacles that constantly confront them, but love, the true strength of their union, proves too formidable a foe for the various elements determined to render them apart. In The Name Of Love is a heart-warming read that more than reassures the reader of all the possibilities to be achieved through true faith and patience, if one only believes. More so, though, it is a cautionary tale of the benefits of maintaining personal resolve, no matter how difficult your individual path may be. Ward reminds us through the perseverance of her protagonists that the only failure lies only in refusing to fight for what you truly believe in. Highly recommended.

In the Name of Love by Sammie Ward is a temptuous and well crafted tale that draws you into the life of Shari Thomas who is a lot like today's woman, sucessful, an owner of her own business and looking for a lifetime partner to commit to and fall in love.

She re-ignites a relationship with an old college flame. He's the debonair Derrick Rawlings. After all, he's discovered he has something in common with Shari which she has kept a secret for 5 years. They get engaged and all seems to go well until Mia and Kevin arrive on the scene. Yes, the couple from hell.

They act like love birds one minute making Shari envious, and then throw off Shari's relationship with deceit as Kevin makes suggestive passes at her when no one is looking for some reason. Mia on the otherhand, warns Shari that she is Derrick's old flame and he's only marrying her because she has a child by him when no one is looking.

It is obvious that Kevin senses that Mia still has the hots for her former love affair, and that Mia is bent on ruining Shari's future marriage with Derrick. These two know how to spoil a evening out on the town with their own secret agendas that become evident in this page turning hit.

Things become more heated by the moment when Derrick catches Shari with Carlton, who is severe competition for Derrick and way more handsome. It doesn't help that Shari's mother in law, Eleonore, does not want her son anywhere near Shari. Now she must prove she is in love with Derrick who feels she has defied his trust in her.

Nevertheless, Shari and Derrick are finally off to the altar, but a mysterious letter apears that can threaten their marriage and love for each other once and for all. The question that stands is, can love truly conquer all.

Ms. Sammie Ward is a clever and brisk writer who knows how to develop an eye-catching plot readers will enjoy from beginning to end. In the Name of Love would be perfect for a screenplay adaptation along the lines of the hit series Soul Food. I love how she developed her characters and use of witty dialogue. I would strongly recommend this work to book lovers. Fine work and praise for the author of "In the Name of Love."

i found in the name of love to be a good book. i really liked that ms sammie wrote about the importance of a man being a good father. something men need to be these days. she managed to touch on about women who don't know when 'no' mean know. this novel was a great read from beginning to end. i am now a huge fan. i will be picking up her other books.

THIS BOOK GETS ZERO STARS FROM ME!!!!! I was very disappointed with this book. None of it seemed real and the so-called "plot" that was suppose to thicken towards the end was the worst.

Emotions of betrayal, a love gone awry, and all the ingredients needed to make wrongs right is packed into author Sammie Ward's latest novel, IN THE NAME OF LOVE. How much we are willing to do in the name of love is anybody's guess, but when drama is linked to human emotion heart and mind often clash without stability to overrule foolish intent. The genesis of this story involves Derrick Rawlings' decision to move back home to take over the family business after his father falls ill. Shari Thomas is a respected and talented doctor on a collision course to rectify circumstances involving Derrick that caused him to leave in the first place. Derrick happened upon his college sweetheart and his best friend sharing a kiss, which he concluded wasn't in his best interests, so he fled to Europe to escape the negative drama and flak from his friends. Now almost six years later they are destined to meet again, but under what set of circumstances? There are all types of adjectives to describe innuendo and good intent when fate intervenes forcing one to go alternative routes. Such is the case here where secrets are allowed to lie dormant without rectification, which is one of the definitive entities of this tale.

Developing a compelling and moving story is a challenge for any writer trying to hold an audience. This author has done a credible job for the right amount of stability to allow the setting to mesh with good characters and not have the story bog down too much because of predictability and overbearing morass. I love how she developed her characters and were able to use the right amount of metaphor for decent dialogue. Imagine the scene after Derrick and finds Shari more alluring and attractive than before, despite hostile overtones, as each is blaming the other for the breakup. Unbeknownst to Derrick, the kiss was staged to sabotage the relationship, and made for him to be a pawn in a selfish game played by some people he trusted. The real trick here is for the author to weave the story where conflict asserts itself to give not only contrast, but also a certain level of balance for a solid ending. Can Derrick and Shari rekindle the love they once shared?

Despite the fact that vestiges of the story were predictable, Ms Ward gave us enough reason for it to be salvaged. Like the previous books that the author has written, this one can certainly be placed with them for legitimacy. Not to harp on the small things that cropped up in the story, I for one would have welcomed more confrontation to enhance the possibility of a back-story. Nonetheless, I will add my name to others who have given this author carte blanche to be considered among her peers as a writer with more to say where talent is much more than an afterthought to good drama. If you buy this book, you won't be disappointed!

In the Name of Love by Sammie Ward is a temptuous and well crafted tale that draws you into the life of Shari Thomas who is a lot like today's woman, sucessful, an owner of her own business and looking for a lifetime partner to commit to and fall in love.

She re-ignites a relationship with an old college flame. He's the debonair Derrick Rawlings. After all, he's discovered he has something in common with Shari which she has kept a secret for 5 years. They get engaged and all seems to go well until Mia and Kevin arrive on the scene. Yes, the couple from hell.

They act like love birds one minute making Shari envious, and then throw off Shari's relationship with deceit as Kevin makes suggestive passes at her when no one is looking for some reason. Mia on the otherhand, warns Shari that she is Derrick's old flame and he's only marrying her because she has a child by him when no one is looking.

It is obvious that Kevin senses that Mia still has the hots for her former love affair, and that Mia is bent on ruining Shari's future marriage with Derrick. These two know how to spoil a evening out on the town with their own secret agendas that become evident in this page turning hit.

Things become more heated by the moment when Derrick catches Shari with Carlton, who is severe competition for Derrick and way more handsome. It doesn't help that Shari's mother in law, Eleonore, does not want her son anywhere near Shari. Now she must prove she is in love with Derrick who feels she has defied his trust in her.

Nevertheless, Shari and Derrick are finally off to the altar, but a mysterious letter apears that can threaten their marriage and love for each other once and for all. The question that stands is, can love truly conquer all.

Ms. Sammie Ward is a clever and brisk writer who knows how to develop an eye-catching plot readers will enjoy from beginning to end. In the Name of Love would be perfect for a screenplay adaptation along the lines of the hit series Soul Food. I love how she developed her characters and use of witty dialogue. I would strongly recommend this work to book lovers. Fine work and praise for the author of "In the Name of Love."

IN THE NAME OF LOVE IS a mischievous story about betrayal and lost love. When Derrick Rawlings happened upon his college sweetheart and his best friend sharing a kiss, he fled to London to escape the negative drama. Now almost six years later a medical condition with Derrick's father brings him back home to assume control of the family business.

Derrick and Sherri have not spoken to each other since the separation. So their initial reunion had hostile overtones, as each blamed the other for the breakup. But further research proved that the kiss was staged to sabotage the relationship. When six-year-old secrets begin to surface, Derrick realizes he was a pawn in a selfish game played by some people he trusted, and he is livid. A saving grace for Derrick is that one of the secrets will bring him great joy. Can Derrick and Sherri rekindle the love they once shared? Derrick must dig deep within himself to forgive his family before he can move on with his life.

Ms. Ward has given readers a timeless story about the the consequences of secrets. Although this was a predictable storyline; overbearing parents not liking their son's choice, with characters who offered few surprises, the author still manages to keep the story entertaining. I would have liked more confrontation as the drama unfolded, but I still enjoyed reading about the unscrupulous things people do as the title says, IN THE NAME OF LOVE.

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers