Customer Reviews

Putting It Back Together (Urban Soul)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hurricane Katrina affected the lives of everyone who lived through it. Dr. Alexis White is a pediatrician living in post-Kartrina New Orleans. She's a professional woman who returned to her beloved city to accomplish whatever she could in its reconstruction and recovery. Things become complicated for her when she is caught up in an emotional love triangle between streetwise attorney Jamar Duplessis, her current boyfriend, and Reggie Morgan, her one great love of the past who has returned. Deftly written by Rhonda M. Lawson, "Putting It Back Together" is a memorable and highly recommended read focused on the lives of three successful yet incomplete people played out against the backdrop of a city determined to emerge from the ruination of Hurricane Katrina into an even better version of itself for the future.

Dr. Alexis White seemed to have it together. She is back home in Katrina ravaged New Orleans and building her own pediatrics practice to help the young victims the storm left in its wake. However, getting over the hurt she felt when her fiancé decided not to return to New Orleans after Katrina was proving to be harder than the young doctor thought.

Reggie Morgan was living every young boys dream. As a professional football player for the New Orleans Saints, with a beautiful wife and a young son, Reggie appears to have all a man could ask for. All that is except for a wife who is supportive and faithful.

Alexis and Reggie's world collide after many years of separation. No longer college students learning about life, Alexis and Reggie are forced to face their past demons and move forward as they get reacquainted. The process of sorting out broken hearts, broken promises and shattered dreams proves to be a painful journey full of surprises.

Written with post Katrina New Orleans as a back drop, Ms Lawson pulls the reader into the culture, traditions and pride of the citizens of New Orleans. The descriptive passages of the city and the emotions left by the tragedy that fell upon "the Big Easy" places you in the streets of New Orleans. This thought provoking page turner is sure to have you on the edge of your seat as you delve into the lives of Alexis and Reggie.

This book had me captivated from the first page to the end. I could not put this book down. I am not from Louisiana but the author put you right on the streets of New Orleans and the other cities affected by Hurricane Katrina. This is a must read. BUY THE BOOK!!!!!! Great book to read.

Returning to her hometown of New Orleans in the tragic wake of Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Alexis White tasks herself with treating the children whose lives have been forever altered by the horrific storm. At the same time that she cares for her patients, she also tends to her freshly broken heart, which the debonair Jamar Dilepliss tries his best to win over; however, when Alexis is unexpectedly reunited with her old flame - and current star quarterback of the New Orleans Saints - Reggie Morgan, the sudden onslaught of old feelings thrusts her in the midst of a tortuous conflict between starting a new love and rekindling an old one, and her heart may not have the strength to endure the struggle...

Putting It Back Together is a touching, heartrending read. Highlighting the difficulties we all face when it comes to matters of the heart, author Rhonda Lawson's compelling page-turner takes you deep into the climactic struggle that Alexis wages within herself to follow the true desires of her heart. Of course, saddled by his own marital and professional problems, Reggie strives to break through the ominous circumstances clouding his life as well, leading up to a suspenseful climax sure to leave the reader in rapt anticipation regarding the conclusion of the final chapter in the ongoing saga of the passionate former lovers.

With a host of timely life lessons to share, Putting It Back Together provides the reader with an insightful glimpse into the often mysterious workings of the human heart. An enjoyable read.


Karynda Lewis
Apex Reviews

Dr. Alexis White has returned to her beloved city of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. She's determined to help those still living in poverty and rebuilding their lives, and offers health care to those who have trouble paying. But even though her sacrifice means she's still living with her parents, her friends and family are around her and she's proud of what she's accomplished.

But the one area Alexis still struggles with is her love life. Twice burned, she's now reluctant to give her heart fully, and she keeps her long-standing boyfriend Jamar at a distance. And when her old college flame, Reggie Morgan, reappears in her life, she's forced to make some important decisions.

In Putting It Back Together, Rhonda M. Lawson doesn't paint a rosy tint on her characters, but instead shows them in all their humanness, flaws and all. Alexis is a strong woman who doesn't always know her own mind, but she tries to do the right thing in her life now, after making bad mistakes in her past. I enjoyed getting to know her, and kept hoping she would make the right choice in the end. This was a great read, and I look forward to seeing more from this talented author.

Reviewed by: Alice Berger

Alexis has her professional life as a doctor on track but has trouble putting her personal life where it should be. She is stuck in the past, think of old lost love and pushing away feelings for the present man in her life. When she runs into the one who she felt got away, she doesn't know what to do. Alexis, Reggie and Jamar become part of a triangle of past, present, and future.

Rhonda Lawson does a great job writing a story that includes the current state of New Orleans. It doesn't over power the story but accents it just enough for a native to smile and laugh when they recognize places, sayings and other things they are familiar with. This book was a good romantic read. I wanted to know more about the characters when I put this book down. I would definitely read the sequel and/or books by Lawson.

I really enjoyed reading this book, especially being a New Orleanien myself. Alexis was one tough cookie, who in the end had to make a hard decision. I hate to say it I could relate a lot with Aleis I had to ask my fried do you think I'm Alexis. LOL

Back home in New Orleans after Katrina hit Dr. Alexis White seemed to have it together. All her focus was on building her pediatrics practice to help the young victims the storm left in its wake. However, getting over the hurt she felt when her fiancé decided not to return to New Orleans after Katrina was proving to be harder than the young doctor thought.

Reggie Morgan a professional football player for the New Orleans Saints seemed to have every thing any man could ever want a beautiful wife and young son; however what Reggie is missing is a faithful wife.

After several years the college sweet hearts Alexis and Reggie meet again. Getting over their past hurts proves a painful and difficult journey.

Rhonda Lawson keeps the readers captivated with this page turner!

SistaGirl Book Club & Michael Baisden Reviewers

New Orleans native, Alexis White has come back to the city where she grew up. She is now a pediatrician with her own practice. Many of her patients are survivors of Hurricane Katrina who suffer from many illnesses. In the midst of helping others, she wonders if she can help herself. Alexis is currently working to forget about her ex-boyfriend Tony from Houston, TX. She is dating one of the city's best attorneys, Jamar Dilepliss who is working diligently to break down the barriers of Alexis's broken heart. But when her former college boyfriend and current New Orleans Saints' quarterback, Reggie Morgan comes back to the city, Alexis finds old feelings resurface. She has to examine her feelings for both men and decide which one of them has her heart.

PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER was a good read. Rhonda Lawson does a superb job of getting the reader to look into the lives of each of the characters. She allows us to see the highs and lows of each situation and it is easy to visualize myself going through all of the emotions Alexis, Jamar and Reggie experienced in the book. It was hard to put this book down and I found myself eager to pick right up where I left off. Rhonda also allows the reader to learn some lessons from this book as well. Learning how to appreciate the people in your life teaches us how to put the past behind us so we can focus on the present.

Reviewed by Cheryl Dublin
for The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Ms. Lawson inspried a great message in this book. The affects of Hurricane Katrina are still ongoing, but there are people in New Orleans such as Dr. Alexis White who are still trying to make a difference through community involvement. This book is a must-read for anyone that is truly into giving back to the community through funds or deeds.