4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Behind Closed Doors, February 9, 2007
Pamela Mays, a star R&B singer, hasn't been back to her hometown of Mercy, Georgia since she left on a bus eighteen years ago. It seemed to the townsfolk that she was running from something, but they could only speculate on what that something was. When Pamela's twin sister, Paris, is killed in an accident, she has to do something she never planned on doing: she has to go home and face the demons of her past. Pam never bargained for the things that would be unearthed when she returned, however, and it seems like this time around she can run, but she can't hide.
Filled with suspense, romance, family ties, and memorable characters, RUNNING FROM MERCY was one of those books I couldn't wait to finish, but, at the same time, I didn't want it to end. The book kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen to these characters I had so much invested in. Terra Little's debut onto the literary landscape is a spectacular smash, and I'm eager to read her future works.
Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hidden Secrets, November 17, 2006
Rhythm and Blues singer, Pamela Mayes, swore never to return to Mercy, Georgia when she stepped on that bus eighteen years ago. The death of her twin sister, Paris, made her renege on that vow. It was Pam's intention to attend her sister's funeral and return to California, but something kept her in Mercy, a little too long. The longer she stayed, secrets began to unravel. Terra Little delivers a story of reuniting love with some surprising unexpected discoveries in her novel Running from Mercy.
Pamela and Paris were inseparable as children growing up in Mercy, GA. Pamela, the yen to Paris' yang. They were abandoned at birth and lived in an orphanage until they reached the age of eighteen. At age eighteen, Pamela was in love, looking forward to getting married to her high school sweetheart. Just days before graduation and her marriage, Pam got on a bus and disappeared without an explanation. Paris stayed in Mercy, went to college, married Chad Green and raised their daughter, Nikki. In the midst of clearing out Paris' things, Pam gives Nikki Paris' journal. What Nikki reads in the journal changes the lives of her family..
Pam's return to Mercy also brings to town Miles Dixon, a writer intent on doing an unauthorized autobiography on Pam. He befriends her and the townspeople to get information for his book. Miles discovers a 35-year-old secret.
Little tells this story through journal entries written by Pam, Paris and Nikki and flashbacks of the twins teenage years. Some of the transitions between the past and present were abrupt and took this reader by surprise. However, I appreciated the flashbacks as they helped in the character's development and explained the character's motives and behaviors. I thought for a first time novelist, Ms Little did a good job. I look forward to more work from her in the future.
Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Running "for" or "from" Mercy?, May 9, 2009
This review is from: Running From Mercy (Paperback)
You can run...but you can't hide! Pamela Mayers thought when she boarded the bus bound for any place other than Mercy, Georgia that the beginning of the end to her problems would finally start. But life has a cruel way of making us come back and face the demons of our past. Met Pamela and Paris Mayers, twin sisters who are orphans. Pam and Paris resided at the Orphanage know as the "Home" in this small town, where everyone knew everyone and of course their business, as well. But there were some secrets that were yet to be uncovered. Will Mercy, Ga. every be the same?
This book begins with Pam having to return to Mercy, Ga. for the funeral of her twin sister who was killed in a car accident. After 18 years Pam still had many reservations of returning to the place where she once called home. She still had visions of the good times that she shared there, but there were also the nightmares that came even when the lights were on. The question becomes, how can she return to a place that held so many of her secrets, and other secrets that she isn't aware of; and still depart with those secrets remaining unearthed.
Well, the truth of the matter is Pam must faced those demons, for they really weren't masked that deep nor well.
Meet Pam the now R&B successful singer, Paris, the quiet, subdued, loving and caring social worker, mother and wife, then meet Nikki, the daughter and niece who resides in a trouble free world...and finally meet "The Diary", full of meticulous, multihued, and can't wait to be exposed secrets.
Nikki, very sad after the death of her mother, is given her mom's diary by her aunt Pam. It is between the pages of this diary that secrets, lies, truth, jealousy, and deceitfulness come alive. Once all of these things are uncovered will everyone be able to go about their lives as is normal?
Paris, although dead, may be the only one who may have escaped the turmoil that will erupt as each page of "The Diary" is revealed. The town of Mercy, Georgia will be singing Mercy, Mercy Me once the twists and turns are unearthed. Yes, lives will forever be changed and one will be left thinking... can all of this splintering be fixed?
This, Ms. Little's debut novel is full of emotion, heart felt passion, gut wrenching pain, and then maybe just maybe healing will come about. This author definitely hones her skill. Her writing style is one that is enjoyable, mesmerizing, gripping and to say the very least a pleasure to read. I look forward to more books by her. It is a pleasure to have her in the literary field. There is definitely room for another intriguing writer.
Welcome, into my world, Ms. Little.
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