Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
AAMBC Book Reviews, June 14, 2009
Throughout the story, I am reminded of the women being cursed. The secret was let out by their Grandmother Lila before she died. She explained to her mature granddaughters that the scar on her ring finger happened when her best friend, Marie Williams, slicked across it at seventeen years old. She carved two uneven lines, believed this is where the heart line is, and that love will never run its course in her life. How does this curse continue in her genealogical line? Marie also whispered the curse in her ear after cutting the lines on her ring finger, saying, "The men you love will never love you. The men who love you, you will never love." Who wants this type of curse for their own life and their kindred? Wait until the truth is unleashed.
Stormy is aware of the curse, as well as her husband, Brandon, but they still divorce. He wanted children, and Stormy would not provide until after they are divorced. Now, she has to watch Miley come in the picture, who proposed to her husband and pregnant with his child too. She wants to break the curse. Can it be broken?
Riley and Stormy are "double cousins". There mothers are sisters who married twin brothers. Their fathers died at a young age, which they united as "sisters" due to the loss. Stormy keeps Riley adulterous secret with a married man. Sadly to say, Riley does not appreciate the man who loves her, Damon, and falls in love with a married man, Kendall. This character thus far upsets me the most. Do you know how many women would love to have a good man that loves them and to be committed (marriage)? Yet, there are scandalous women out there, only out to get theirs! You will read how many times she has been married too.
Lourdes is tolerating Ray's other children outside of their marriage. Ray may not fathered one or two of his children, but still claim them and Lourdes still accepts them as his. She has even moved in his son, RJ (Ray Jr) and his mother in their home. What!
Toyi Ward brings out some great points of faith, hope, and love...we need to break generational curses. I believe God can break any of these curses (Deuteronomy 28), yet some people that curses only happen if you believe in them. The author also points out religion aspects to see if this is a method used to break curses.
During my read, at first I felt I was rushed into scenes and had to re-read, but mid-way through the book...it took me on a roller-coaster ride of drama and deceit that some of the women put on themselves. Women have intuition and can see the "red flags", but still allow the mess to unfold in their journey of life...worth the read!
Adrienna Turner
AAMBC Reviewer
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read, November 7, 2009
A friend told me about the book, "Par of the Curse" and I was pretty intrigued about the generational curses portion. I am pretty impressed w/ Toyi Ward's writing because I was able to complete the entire book within 1.5 days...that's with being married and raising 2 little children. The book was quite the page turner...I didn't want to put it down because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. It's something how some women always seem to want what they can't have. It's almost like a game or something to them and the men are no better who entertain these types of behaviors. I think the most I took from this book is that our tongues have the power to speak life and death into a situation. We need to be mindful of that power we are given by God and be selective and mindful of our words. Harmful things we speak over our children and our families can have a negative effect on them for the rest of their lives. It took Stormie, Riley and Lourdes to go thru so much abuse to finally get to the bottom of the matter and dispel the curse. In actuality...we all have the power in Christ to dispel any curse, whether it's supposedly generational or not. We have to exercise our faith to believe that our lives are destined for greatness.
I feel Ms. Ward did a great job giving enough detail on certain matters to keep the intrigue...but not going too overboard to become bored. Each page kept you wanting for more.
Get this book...you will not be disappointed.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Generational Curses, September 7, 2009
Par for the Curse by Toyi Ward is a funny, yet insightful look at what women pass on from generation to generation. Grandma Lila's saying was "The men you love will never love you and the men who love you, you will never love." That is the legacy she passed down to the women in her family. And they bought in hook, line and sinker. The eight women had 24 husbands among them. However, most of the story was focused on the younger women, Lourdes, Stormy and Riley.
Lourdes was determined to stay married and break the curse, no matter what it cost her and it cost her plenty, mostly her dignity and almost her life. Riley is the good time girl who openly cheats on her husband, but is secretly wishing for love of her own. Stormy, the peaceful one is trying to get her philandering husband back, but she might be missing what is right in her face.
Ms. Ward does a wonderful job of revealing family dysfunction, generational curses and a mix of voodoo and hoodoo. She even explains the difference between voodoo and hoodoo, while providing the reader with some laugh-out-loud moments. I recommend Par for the Curse to all who love a well-told story with a few twists, turns and humor.
Angelia Vernon Menchan
APOOO BookClub
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