Customer Reviews

Par for the Curse

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

First, what's good. Toyi Ward wrote an intriguing story spanning several generations that is accessible to many women (though I'd venture not as many men). In reading the book, I learned more about different cultures and religions (Voodoo and Hoodoo are two real and separate practices!) and gained an understanding about why some women behave in relationships the way that they do. It was a page-turning, quick read, with a "mystery" that ends in a satisfying manner.

What's not-so-great. I found myself frustrated with the women in this story, often thinking in exasperation that they each just needed to be stronger. That being said, weaker women exist in the world and should indeed be written about--their stories told, their lessons learned (or learned by others), their experiences commiserated with. In the end, although I felt frustrated by many of the actions of the women and the decisions that they continually made, I felt that the stories were well-told and worth being told.

As a side note, it took me a few pages to realize that the characters spoke in an "accent" that I do not think in. Before coming to this realization, attempting to "hear" the characters in my inner voice was annoying; however, once I realized the tone and adjusted my inner voice, the reading came much more easily and enjoyably.

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.

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

Par for the Curse by Toyi Ward was a good read! It points out how an individuals beliefs defines who they are, how they live and how they effect others; in turn, "continuing the curse!" Half told stories by elder family members, lies and kept secrets create a truly entertaining read with waves of hmmm's and ohhh's. The lives of the Briggs girls, (Stormy, Riley & Lourdes,)whether married, divorced or somewhere in-between were filled with drama and sorrow and their mother's (Beverly, Nona and Lena,)after having long accepted their unsigned fate,(doomed themselves to "trick for treats" so to speak)added more flue then sand to the wildfire burning out of control in the lives of their also "doomed" daughters. I enjoyed this book because it makes the reader question what they believe, and if they believed, which was kind cool and held my attention. Although at the end, I didn't fully understand why the great grandmother chose to hide truths and lie to her family the way she did, I still appreciated the mystery because do we ever really know why someone lied?

You don't need to find adjectives to describe something when the product speaks for itself. It was a good book point, blank, period and anyone who picks it up will not be disappointed.

Jer-Z Girls Go Hard!
First time up to bat and Toyi brought one home!

Marie Antionette~

I have to begin by disclosing that I am an extremely picky reader and a frustrated editor with a tendency to cast a hard eye on works of so-called "urban fiction" especially. With that out of the way, this book is a well-crafted page turner! Some of the plot twists come out of nowhere! At one point I actually gasped aloud! Overall, the main characters are well developed and sympathetic with consistent motivation. The writing style paints a vivid picture. The story is extremely original and would make an excellent screenplay. I am eagerly awaiting more from this author...a prequel perhaps???????

Quite the page turner, Par for the Curse is a story that many (if not all) readers will relate to in some form or another. An inspiring story of the true meaning of family, friendship, and most of all forgiveness. Readers will reflect on their own lives and the need to take control and ownership of the direction in which they wish their lives to move. Your heart will race as you feel the raw emotions of the characters as they navigate this journey called LIFE.

What a refreshing story. For popular fiction the sentence structure is strong and could easily be literary in nature. The plot is well done and the ending does not disappoint. This is a genre busting display of originality. It's obvious the author conducted extensive research in palm reading to provide the back drop for this story. Even I tried to interpret my own hand while reading the story.

The character development is some of the best in popular fiction. Though the characters are mixed race African-Americans, their plight and appeal are universal. The depth and complexity of the family dynamics are perfectly crafted in a tale of love, support, and typical family tension. The character behavior is consisten throughout the novel and there was never any place that I felt a disconnect between character and behavior.

The plot had several underlying stories, all that were wrapped up by the end of the story. Unlike a lot of popular fiction, this novel develops, nurtures, and closes the plot at all levels of the story. It's funny, thought-provoking, and pure entertainment. I give this story an "A" and Toyi Ward a red carpet into fiction writing.

I posted another review on the hardcover version, which is the one I read as a preview copy. I was psyched to get to preview this story. It was so much fun, yet it rang very true. I saw myself in not one but all of the girls in the book. One minute I was laughing the next I contemplated my own life because of the truth that rang throughout the story for me. It was an excellent read. I hope there is a sequel.

I was so glad to score a preview copy of this from Facebook. This is a great story. I couldn't believe that this was her first book. The story is very original and moved me through many emotions. One minute I was laughing aloud and the next I was contemplating my own life. I felt like each one of the girls was a part of my own personality. When I finished the book I actually missed the characters, wondering what they were doing. Great story! Hope there is a sequel.