Customer Reviews

Practicing What You Preach

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Reviewed by: Leandus Poe
CEO/Author/Critic
Titles: Strawberries and Blackberry Cheesecake
-Diminishing Love
Companies: Million Dollar Book Reviews
-Million Dollar Boys Cub, LLC

Practice What You Preach by Vanessa Davis Griggs receives
4.5 Diamonds <> <> <> <> <

First and foremost it was a very distinct pleasure meeting such an accomplished writer right here on Myspace. Vanessa Davis Griggs is an author and motivational speaker who adores the power of words both written and spoken. At the end of 1996, this former Bell South employee left 18 years of service and stepped out on faith. She left to pursue a life long dream of writing and motivational speaking. Her hard work and dedication has earned her numerous accomplishments as an author. In 2007 she was awarded the Arts and Letters Award from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Birmingham Alabama Chapter. Additionally, in 2006 she was also the recipient of The Greater Birmingham Millennium Section National Counsel of Negro Women Inspiration Award, and 2004-2005 Jasper Outstanding Achievement Award.

Her most recent novel entitled "Practice What You Preach" was an exceptional read that demanded my attention and took me to church all at the same time. This novel took me on a biblical journey of understanding the many "misconceptions" of divorce.

Melissa Anderson, an aspiring event planner, try's her best to steer clear of men that just haven't measured up in the past. She is more into her career at this point but deep down inside secretly longs to meet Mr. Right. In the middle of planning a wedding for a popular couple in the city she meets Marcus Peeples, a gifted minister.

Melissa is torn between the strong feelings developing inside for Marcus but is also more spiritually compelled to live in accordance with God's will concerning the issue of divorce. She refuses to get serious with Marcus because she considers it adultery, fooling around with a divorced man.

Marcus being the gifted minister that he truly is, eventually breaks through the many barriers and false perceptions of divorce by holding a one on one bible class with Melissa. Not only did it clear up the misconception at the one on one bible study but it also began the connection of two souls destine to be together.

This novel has a variety of social issues to talk about in addition to the main story line. I found myself deeply connected to the content and inspired to find out and research more. This book will make you want to pick up your bible along with Marcus and Melissa and follow along.

Author's words to her fans...

"I can only hope you know how much I not only appreciate you, but respect you. You make what I do have greater meaning. Otherwise it's like a tree that falls in the forest---does it really make a sound? So I thank you from the bottom, top, and sides of my heart!"

Vanessa Davis Griggs has a blend of characters with social issues, baby mama drama, and unveiling faith. Characters are well-written that interweaves some generational curses that need to be broken, religiosity, judgmental believers, and genuine angels that step out of the norm. There are some characters you cannot help but love, and others question their motives when they realize they lost something good! Do not jump to other people opinions of you, do not be quick to anger, and loose what God brought in your life (divine connections, job, people, divine relationships and marriages, etc.).

Do not loose on the blessings God has for you! Break those generational curses, strongholds, and negativity in your life. This book lays it all out. It is a must-read. Practice what you Preach!

Thank you for entrusting us with your advance copy! Favorite characters are Marcus Peeples, his daughter Aaliyah, and these characters grew on me at the very end: Angela "Angel" Underwood and Arletha Brown (Black).

Dream 4 More Book Reviews,
Adrienna Turner

I love Mrs. Griggs and have purchased and read all her novels leading up to this one, but this particular story was a bit rushed at the end. For instance, the ex-wife was in the kitchen preparing a meal for him and their daughter she came over (main character) and in a mad dash to keep her from leaving, he proposed to her, all on 1 page. There was no thought to it at all and the story ended right there. I just felt cheated. I detest stories that take the time to develop the characters and when you get to the end, they rush to bring everything to a head. How fair is that to the reader?

And I believe that some of the storyline was off. In Strongholds, which was written before this one, Angel was pregnant and found out her husband had pornographic desires that she was not aware of. In this book, they've just returned from their honeymoon but the book made several references to the fictional Pastor's series on Strongholds that he taught. In fact, the main character in this book had gotten over her married lover in the book Strongholds and this was her new relationship. So how could they have been returning from a honeymoon in Practicing when in Strongholds she was "very" pregnant. Confusing indeed.

When growing up we would hear from the adults in our lives to do as they say not as they do. It was more the norm to do as they did than what they said. Some would say as Christians, we tend to follow the word of God while in the church itself. But once we are out, often the premise of the preaching is gone and we act like the rest of the community. Vanessa Davis Griggs used her main characters, Melissa Anderson and Marcus Peeples, along with her secondary characters, in Practicing What You Preach to show the abundant blessings and sheer joy a person can have if they walked the talk they shared with others.

Melissa, like many, has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But once she has rededicated her life to God, she prays for the things that she would like to have in her life including the man that should be her lifelong partner. When Marcus, a business acquaintance of her boss, shows interest in her Melissa tries to scare him off with a first date at Bible study. After having what was a great time, Melissa is the one trying to get away. What could Marcus have possibly said or done to make her not want to go out on a second date? Will Marcus be able to make it right?

When people believe wholeheartedly in something or someone, it is hard for them to let go of their belief. But sometimes if you stop trying so hard the thing you believe in will reveal itself in its true entirety. Melissa has a strong belief in what she thinks various scriptures in the Bible are referring to. However, if she is not willing to listen to the teachings of the word and live as God would have she will miss her blessings. I really enjoyed Practicing What You Preach. I read it in one day because I needed to know what was going to happen in the end, but also due to it being an easy and fast-paced story. It gets a little preachy at times, but to fully understand the message that Ms. Griggs offered through the characters the story had to be that way. I recommend Practicing What You Preach to readers who enjoy God's wisdom and words, wrapped around a good story.

Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub

Reads like a charm, hard to put down. Vanessa Davis Griggs did it again. Keep them coming, can't wait for next book.

Read this for my book-club discussion for the month of April. This was an awesome book to discuss and Amazon was amazing in getting the books delivered within two days of ordering, So that evreyone had a book and had it in enough time to read it. Thanks Amazon on your delivery service and the condition of the books were excellent!

This novel by Vanessa Davis Griggs is primarily about a young woman named Melissa who goes out, against her first inclination, with a guy who sometimes visits her office. To her surprise however, she has a great time with him and becomes really interested. The problem however is that homeboy aka Marcus is divorced and Melissa isn't down with that, since her understanding of the scriptures sees being involved with a divorced person as committing adultery. Luckily for her Marcus is not about to let her slip away without a fight, and he takes the time to work through the divorce thing with her, showing her how she may have interpreted the scripture wrong. I'm glad to see them working it out and all, but three-quarter way through the book, when the baby momma drama begins to ensue, I can't help but wonder if there is something to be said about not being involved with divorcees. It sure does present the challenges involved, and I like that Griggs keeps it realistic like that. I must say though, I was a bit annoyed that Marcus could not seeing what his crazy baby momma was up to.

My only problem with this book is that, as I read it, I knew there was some back story that I was missing out. There were a lot of details at some parts and I would think "she's not just telling us all this for nothing, it must connect to something else somewhere else." Then I found out that most of Griggs previous books are connected to each other, and this one was no different. In some cases the story felt very cluttered with all of these side plots and other stories. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed the book. Furthermore, the cliff-hanger type ending has me looking for Goodness and Mercy, Griggs next book in the series.

This is definitely a page turner. Griggs has the gift of making you feel for the characters and what they're going through. Especially since their issues are very close to home.

Melissa is a wedding planner and her friend Angela's wedding is going to be a big one. It keeps her busy getting everything ready. She also has a job at a doctor's office and a handsome pharmaceutical salesman, Marcus Peeples begins to show an interest in her and asks her out. Melissa agrees to go until she finds out Marcus is a divorced man with a child. Because of her belief in what the bible says about adultery, she knows she cannot date Marcus. Marcus agrees to show her what the bible really means when it talks about divorce and adultery. Will Melissa hear what he has to say? Meanwhile, his former wife decides she wants Marcus back and she begins plotting to make it a reality. How will this star-crossed affair turn out?

PRACTICING WHAT YOU PREACH by Vanessa Davis Griggs is a fascinating story of love lost and love found. It also gives some very interesting and concrete evidence of what the bible really means. There were also side plots that added to the story. I found the book to be a real page-turner, as well as a learning experience. I would recommend it to everyone.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Event Planner Melissa Anderson has been working tirelessly to plan the wedding of Angela Gabriel and Brent Underwood. It's supposed to be the social event of the year in Birmingham. During this frantic time, she decides to unwind and go out on a date. She accepts a date from Marcus Peeples, a very gifted minister at Followers of Jesus Faith Worship Center. Even though it was not love at first sight, she did respect him and did have an attraction for him. That is, until she finds out that he is divorced. Being the spiritual woman that she is, she could not date Marcus because of his marital status, even though he was a good man and a great father. Marcus decides that it is time to clear up some confusion about divorce and give Melissa a clearer picture. Just when things start to turn around, Marcus's ex-wife appears back in the picture and wants to claim her ex-husband. Melissa soon figures out that love can sometimes come with a price.

In Practicing What You Preach, Vanessa Davis Griggs does a good job of clearing up the misunderstanding that Christians have about divorce. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author blended in the way people in the church deal with baby mama drama. This book was so thought-provoking that once you start to read it, you will not put it down until the very last page. The author gives you the realization of her characters and how they fought with the temptations of the world while trying to stay faithful to God. Practicing What You Preach is a must read.

Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban Reviews