Customer Reviews

Painted Picture

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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Sheila P Miller presents her readers with a novel packed tight with drama. Alicia left everything she knew to be with the love of her life only to find out that he what she thought. Her search takes readers to the streets of Chicago as this young black couple attempt to find the truth about each other.
Painted Picture presents to you a story of a strong willed dynamic young lady that fights to find herself only to realize that family is more important.

Painted Picture is one perfect example of how money can't buy happiness. Sheila Peele-Miller did a great job in bringing the characters to life in her debut novel. I actually felt like I was sitting in the same room with the Characters. Especially Alicia and Derek. My heart went out to Alicia for going through abuse that she certainly did not deserve. In fact, no woman deserves to go through what Derek put her through, but at times I just wanted to shake her for taking it! I have heard of women like Alicia who fantasize and keep hope for things to get better, although they know deep down the man won't change. I wanted her to divorce him so bad. And his family, my goodness! I've heard of people like them as well. The characters were so real. I was glad that Alicia had "Auntie", while she was away from her mother and father. Pat was also another good surrogate mother. The chapters could have been shorter, and I got a little confused by some of the characters because there were so many, but over all this is definitely a great read that I could not put down.

Painted Picture is a tale of dysfunctional love in full momentum. Mrs. Peele-Miller's writing style will keep your eyes riveted to the pages as you travel Alicia's blurry sighted picture of love. Alicia's desire to be an adult, and the the innocence of her upbringing offers no protection towards the family that she jumps in head first to conquer. Painted Picture will make you look at your life and realize all the things you'd do after visioning what you consider a perfect life. This is the first of many great novels from Sheila Peele-Miller. I look forward to reading more. Excellent, Sheila. Excellent.

Sheila Peele-Miller wonderfully captures a young woman's growing pains. This is a true example of "what looks good, is not always good for us." I felt myself feeling bad for Alicia. She loved so hard, but Derek was damaged goods. Hopefully he learned something at the cost of losing most likely the best woman he ever had. I enjoyed reading "Painted Picture."

B. Richardson
GAAL Book Club of Atlanta

North Carolina native, Alicia Bradley, has her heart set on Chicago. Her first great love, Derek Hendricks lives there, and he is heading to her parent's home to bring her back to Chi-town to be his bride. She feels like Cinderella, but there are a few minor concerns:(One) his new career is borderline criminal, (Two) his family is more dysfunctional then a bad episode of "Dr. Phil" and (Three) his rage outbursts threatens Alicia's life on one too many occasions. Alicia believes in marriage and in her idea of what her husband could become, but will it be too little too late when Derek throws a fit that almost destroys the family?

Derek Hendricks loves his new bride, Alicia Bradley, because she is innocent, smart, and the best woman he's ever known. But he didn't grow up in an environment that fostered good relationships and normal behavior, so he falls short, misbehaves and becomes abusive when he gets his way. Eventually his tantrums push Alicia away. He's desperate to keep his marriage, but he's not sure how to do this.

Peele-Miller writes with an around-the-way-girl charm. This novel is reminiscent of TJ Butler's Just My Luck. But she falls short with structure. She crams too many insignificant events into a 280-page book. Characterization is choppy in parts. Alicia spends more time adjusting to Derek's behavior instead of realizing her own shortcomings. Moreover, Peele-Miller had some colorful characters that warrant further development. Perhaps she will reprise them in later sequel.

Have you ever been so in love with someone that no matter what he or she did or how they treated you, you stuck by them through thick and thin? You love the person so much that you overlook their flaws no matter how damaging they may be to you? No matter how good you treat them they continue to emotionally, mentally and physically abuse you? You can't imagine your life without their love and essentially they are the air you breathe? But do you continue to just take it, or do you realize the gem you are and do something about it? In PAINTED PICTURE by Sheila Peele-Miller we see where love can do more harm than good. Is it true what they say about love being blind?

Alicia Bradley is a pretty, smart, young woman who was raised in New Bern, NC. Growing up in a home surrounded by love and stability, Alicia doesn't know the meaning of the word dysfunctional. While Alicia is away at college she meets fine, sexy, and debonair Derek Hendricks. When Derek lays eyes on Alicia he feels she could be his queen the one to assist in turning his life around. Derek grew up in a dysfunctional home where drinking and fighting were as common as day and night. Never feeling loved by his mother, Derek has so much hate in him, he is a little leery of trusting someone with his heart.

As the old saying goes "opposites attract" and Derek and Alicia are no exception, they not only begin dating but also eventually end up marrying. Living in the heart of Chicago's mean streets, life with Derek is a far cry from Alicia's tranquil life with her parents in NC. Trying to survive a roller coaster whirlwind life, Alicia has to look deep within herself to discern if this is a life she wants to continue to lead. Will love prevail and Derek change his wicked ways? Or will his violent rages dissolve his marriage?

PAINTED PICTURE is a touching, heart-wrenching tale of love, lies, deceit and abuse. My heart went out to Alicia as she struggled with whether to stay in the relationship or get out while the getting was good. The abuse she endured made me want to go and talk some sense into her and make her realize just how special she is. What I enjoyed most about the book was how realistic it was and the character development. I felt like I knew Alicia and Derek personally and wanted to do all I could to help them. They loved each other so much and there was no doubt how deep their feelings were for one another. Although love can make you do crazy things, is it worth sacrificing your life?

Reviewed by Eraina B. Tinnin
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Painted Picture is a story that on the surface might seem to echo many (pictorials) that have come before it, and undoubtedly will come after it. Against her family's wishes Alicia leaves home with a man who is about as foreign to her as her definition of `in love', to run up against an awakening that opens her eyes and plants her mother's warnings deep in her psyche. That's on the surface.

Beneath the surface, reading between the lines like curators assess murals, Alicia pencils in delicate strokes for the naivety. Broad ugly contours do up the villains. Generous strokes compare the Carolinas friendly faces and ample landscape against Chicago's harsh winters and cramped combative backdrop. A rich texture of dialogue brings each character off the page. And Alicia's virgin values coalesces the portrait and frames the story.

As sweet as Auntie was, I saw her as an enabler. Juice, Derek, that Brenda, Terese, and just about the whole she-bang were the obvious rogues. Ma was a real welcoming cheerleader. Alicia I call the watcher, permissively and assiduously painting each stroke of her story. And not that she's sitting there always with the long sullen face as she draws all of this out either. Many spots I had to stop and laugh out loud, such as the way she writes giving Derek a piece of her mind...the voice she describes as "came from somewhere..." coming from "somewhere else." Overall, all of them were victims however, except for one (Pat) who was neither/nor victim or enabler. I'm saying, I loved me some Pat! Perhaps she could be billed for the cheerleader, or the rogue maybe...and I know it's just a novel, but I jumped for joy hooting for Pat!!!

Although the novel was written a while back, I would (even today) recommend Painted Picture for those working with young teens, or domestic abuse clients.

Great job.

Most young girls have a picture perfect wedding painted in their minds from the time they are old enough to dream, and Alicia wasn't any different. When she met Derek, the man she thought was the one for her, she gave up everything she knew to be with him. With her bags packed and her family left behind Sheila heads off to Chicago with a man she soon finds out she knows nothing about. When the abuse starts she sticks it out until he pushes her to her limits. Sheila's novel is one that will hit many nerves. Aside from a few too many characters, Painted Picture is a great debut novel from Sheila Peele-Miller.

1. What did you like best about this book?
I liked the topic of the book. Everyone can either relate or knows someone who could relate to the too common situation of abuse.

2. What did you dislike about this book?
I didn't like that some of the minor characters distracted the reader from what was really taking place in the story

3. How can the author improve this book?
I would suggest that the writer eliminate some of the peripheral characters and stick to main ones.

This book is excellent. It is so real. I loved this book so much, Sheila makes you feel every ordeal she writes about. One great author.

Painted Picture brings you inside the lives of Derek and Alicia as they approach a wild, but interesting lifestyle together. Derek and Alicia as they approach a wild, but interesting lifestyle together. Derek has lived in the streets of Chicago all of his life. After getting enough of the streets and his family he enlists in the United States Air Force. While stationed in North Carolina, he meets Alicia and falls in love. Alicia decides that she will follow him wherever he goes even if it means giving up her way of life. When Derek and Alicia finally make their move to his home Alicia is introduced to a side of Derek that she doesn't know.
Sheila P Miller presents to you a novel that is packed tight with drama about a sister who up and left everything she knew to be with the love of her life only to find out that who he really was. The book takes you to the streets of Chicago as this young black sister attempts to find out whom she is and exactly how far her lover would push her before she has to show him what she really is all about.
Painted Picture presents to you a story of a strong willed dynamic young lady that fights to find herself only to realize that family is more important.