Customer Reviews

Sisters & Husbands

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

SISTERS AND HUSBANDS is the sequel to Sisters and Lovers, where we first met sisters, Evelyn, Charmaine and Beverly...and the drama continues.

Beverly has been engaged three times and the last two engagements she broke off just before walking down the aisle. Now she believes she's met the man of her dreams in Julian and she's sure she wants to spend the rest her life with him. Her family is happy she is finally settling down.

Family and friends see Evelyn's and Kevin's marriage as picture perfect, both have successful jobs, a beautiful home, fancy cars and two children. But there's trouble in paradise and Evelyn is not sure how to handle it.

Three times divorced, Charmaine is now living in married bliss of one year with Tyrone until havoc erupts, as she tries to bring two families together.

After learning of her sisters' marital problems, Beverly begins evaluating her relationship with Julian. She knows they love each other, but is marriage worth it if she has to work so hard at it? Will she marry Julian? Or will she call it off at the last minute....again?

SISTERS AND HUSBANDS is a refreshing summer read. Briscoe's writing is light and airy with a sprinkle of spice and a whole lot of drama. The depiction of the characters is genuine and the flow of the novel is smooth from beginning to end. I recommend SISTERS AND HUSBANDS for a quick summer pick-me-up!!

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Typical characters, typical cheating, typical ending. I am glad that I only purchased the novel for $9.99. We get the point that Evelyn likes designer handbags. Ms. Briscoe, did you need to mention this every 10 pages or so?

I was expecting more but overall it is a good read. However, it was not a page turner for me and it dragged a bit in the middle. The characters were interesting, however I would have liked more spice.

I just finished this book and I was disappointed. It was shallow and repetitive. Who cares about the car a person drives? I skimmed the last 1/3 of the book and I am sure that I didn't miss anything. These characters lacked depth and I don't think the sisters ever had an engaging conversation. They ate, wore clothes, drove cars and complained about other people. Depressing! Charmaine held the most promise. Her blended family was interesting. Don't buy it - get it from the library and read every other chapter. Two stars - Not a page turner,but the plot does compel you to finish the book.

I read Sisters and Lovers a few years ago and though I didn't agree with some of the choices the sisters made, I enjoyed the book. Although this book was a quick read, it was not satisfying. I keep reading how Evelyn was supposed to be this strong woman who kept it together but she spent the whole book wringing her hands worrying about what her husband was going to do. She was so concentrated on saving her marriage so she didn't look like a failure in front of her family and friends that she was willing to accept whatever he dished out. Beverly was childish and unrealistic in her view of marriage. No marriage is perfect because there are no perfect people. Her main argument for not wanting to get married if her sisters were having problems in their relationships. If everyone thought that way no one would ever get married. You can't base your life and happiness on the mistakes of others because you may never make those mistakes or never face those issues. I don't believe her marriage to Julian will last because the moment he does something she doesn't like she will head for the hills. Charmaine was by far my favorite character in the book because she could accept her weaknesses and fight for what she wanted. She knew she wanted her husband and she wasn't willing to let his spoiled daughter stand in the way. Charmaine was the most realistic and I was routing for her all the way. She has certainly grown a lot from the first book.

This book was hot to death! It was not a you go girl book at all. The intelligent Ms. Brisco explores the very genuine and diverse aspects of relationships that the African American community goes through. She does this by putting a microscope on the very emotions we experience when going through conflicts within our relationships that we sometimes except as the norm. You will feel yourself identifying with each character in one way or another. Despite the few spicy moments in this book, it will amplify what needs to be done more in relationships and in friendships and what perspectives we need to do away with. I also loved her other book "Can't Get Enough". In my opinion Connie Brisco's writing is the real thing. Enjoy her books on audio also to even bring them to life a little more. Do me one favor Ms Brisco write write write we are waiting!!

Sisters & Husbands by Connie Briscoe - ISBN: 978-0-446-53489-5 - 273 pages - published by Grand Central Publishing - Hardcover - Reviewed by Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant; Literary Wonders ([...]) September 29, 2009 - 5 Stars

In Sisters & Husbands, bestselling author Connie Briscoe introduces us to three sisters; Charmaine, Beverly and Evelyn. Even though these sisters share the same DNA, each has their own set of individual problems.
Charmaine is on her fourth marriage; this time to Tyrone. Even though they are still newlyweds, their marriage is being tested in the form of a step-daughter named Tiffany. Tiffany is Tyrone's daughter, and although she only visits twice a year, uses her father's guilt to get whatever she wants. With each visit Tyrone looses all sight of sanity and reasoning. He's at Tiffany's every beck and call even if it's at the expense of his new wife Charmaine and her son. Charmaine tries to be the bigger person, but she's had about enough.
Kevin has been the love of Evelyn's life since high school, so it made sense that they would marry and have children and live happily ever after. After two decades of marriage, Kevin starts to lose his mind. Evelyn is sure that it is just male mid-life crisis; that is until Kevin sells his law firm and takes a job at the local Blockbuster movie rental chain, gives away his designer suits and shaves his head bald. Evelyn grows more confused about the man Kevin is becoming. Her faith is shook after she realizes Kevin has committed the ultimate betrayal.
Beverly has walked down the isle more times than she cares to remember. Not being able to go through with any of her weddings, Beverly finds herself headed to the alter once more; again with doubt. This time the unlucky fellow is Julian. Julian adores Beverly, but becomes somewhat irritated at Beverly's odd behavior after she finds out that her sister's lives are not quite what they seem. Instead of living for herself, Beverly uses her sisters as a crutch and an excuse not to wed Julian.
These sisters find that everything done in the dark comes to light and no amount of money or Prada can cure a bad marriage. They share laughter and tears and do their best to be a support to one another.
When Beverly learns that both Charmaine and Eveyln are having major marriage problems she starts to think that maybe it is also her destiny to fail at marriage. The question is, will she realize that she is not her sisters?
Connie Briscoe has done another excellent job in twisting characters and story lines that birth great life lessons. Sisters and Husbands is a witty yet realistic example of the deception depicted in some marriages today. You'll be drawn in from the very first page.

In Baltimore Beverly is now thirty-nine years old and been engaged twice before, but broke it off each time. Now she prays three is the lucky charm as she and Julian plan to marry in four weeks. Her two older married sisters and her best friend believe he is the one who will exchange I do with Beverly as he is perfect and they are obviously in love.

However, the commitment phobic Beverly receives three shockers that makes her reconsider marriage. Her two forty something siblings are having marital problems with the oldest Evelyn considers divorce after pretending her spouse is perfect and Charmaine has had enough; both have kids. Her best friend is having an affair with her brother-in-law. Beverly once again doubts marriage as vows mean nothing even to people she respected like her extended family and her former BFF.

A decade in literary terms (fifteen years in real life) has passed since Beverly was a sort of schizoid mix of wanting to marry but somewhat fearful of commitment (see SISTERS AND LOVERS) though her two sisters had husbands and children. The cast is solid as each has personal issues while Beverly holds the story line together with her scrutiny of what is unraveling around her. Although not quite as intense as one would expect from a family drama that looks into marital woes, Connie Briscoe provides a wonderful sequel that her fans will enjoy catching up with Beverly.

Harriet Klausner

Evelyn, Charmaine and Beverly are as close as sisters can be, but could not be more different. Connie Briscoe's Sisters and Husbands show us this closeness and these differences in a delightful, easy-to-read manner.

Beverly, at age thirty-nine, is about to be married for the first time to Julian. However, this is not her first engagement. She has broken off two other engagements and everyone one is waiting with bated breath to see if she will be able to go through with it. She seems far more committed to this one, but, will she allow what is going on around her to make her doubt her choice? Will what is going on in the lives of her sisters impact her?

Charmaine has been married four times. She is the more outgoing, tell-it-like-it-is sister and feels she has finally found the right man in Tyrone. They have been married more than a year, but his daughter from a previous relationship proves to be a problem. Tyrone overindulges her because of guilt issues and Charmaine is not one to take a back seat to anyone. In order to keep her man, will she be able to compromise? Or will she find herself in divorce court again?

Evelyn has been married to Kevin for twenty-five years and the world thinks they have the best marriage possible. What the world does not know is that Kevin has quit his job as an attorney, gotten a job at a video store and moved from the house. Evelyn is unsure what to do and holds out hope until Kevin commits an act that might not be forgivable.

Ms. Briscoe has written a wonderful novel about, love, family, fidelity and marriage. Readers will be able to identify with the characters and root for them. They will also realize how the actions of others impact everyone around them. This is the perfect book for the sultry days of summer.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

It is now ten years later and Beverly is thirty-nine years-old and engaged to Julian. Julian is everything that Beverly has always looked for in a man and her family agrees. But Beverly's family remains cautious because this is her third engagement in the past five years. She is happy about her upcoming nuptials until Beverly learns that her older sister Evelyn's marriage is falling a part. Beverly has always treated Evelyn's marriage as the blueprint for what a marriage is supposed to be. Beverly is now having second thoughts about her own upcoming wedding. Will she stick it out this time?

Sisters & Husbands is a delightful novel by Connie Briscoe. Briscoe brought back the fabulous sisters from Sisters & Lovers. Although this is a sequel, this is a stand alone novel so you do not need to read Sisters & Lovers before reading this one. The character development in this story is what really makes this book stand out. You see how Beverly's past relationships and her sister's marriage woes enters a lot of doubt into her own pending marriage. This novel dealt with a lot of timeless issues such as blended families and mid-life crisis. There is also a good dose of surprising drama that will keep readers on their toes. With Sisters & Husbands, Connie Briscoe once again brought good storytelling back to the forefront.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert
for Urban Reviews