Customer Reviews

Something on the Inside (Urban Christian)

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

 

 

I could not put this book down because the writing was outstanding. I, however, will NEVER recommend this book to anyone. This book will place the wrong idea in a lot of abused victim's minds - i.e., that they have to protect themselves and, for that, this book is unforgiveable and non-recommendable.

Keleia is abused by her father. Her mother sees the abuse and removes Keleia and her brother from the situation. Her mother does not contact the police. Her mother does take Keleia to a therapist and a medical doctor. Neither the therapist, the medical doctor, or the mother reported it to the police. When the mother tried to report it to the police withou Keleia, she was conveniently and NON-REALISTICALLY told that she could not file an abuse report without a statement from the victim. After a bunch of nonsense, Keleia has to take matters into her own hands and protect herself.

This book is utterly ridiculous. This is what really happens (to those victims out there).

1. Your mother sees the abuse.
2. Your mother calls the police.
3. The police contact child protective services and an investigation is performed.
4. The victim is taken to a abuse specialist to try to find out what really happened.
5. The victim is then generally placed in intensive counseling (not doing homework like in this book).
6. The mother files for divorce. In the mother's divorce petition, she asks for a restraining order and ex parte custody of the child based upon the abuse of the child.
7. An attorney is appointed for the child and so on and so on

Please VICTIMS do not pay attention to anything you read in this book.

I give this book 1* for the storyline execution, 5* for the outstanding writing, and 3* for the poor editing. An average of the 3 scores produces a rating of *** (3 stars).

Celia and Khalil Alexander had the ideal marriage and two beautiful children named Kaleia and Caleb to show for it. Little did Celia know that Khalil had a little dark secret that he's hidden from her for over fifteen years. After a business trip cut short, Khalil's dark secret was revealed. Even though Khalil tried to deny it on so many different occasions, God made sure that Celia's eyes would see Khalil for who he was...dark and twisted. Celia is determined to make sure Khalil pays for his crimes, but Khalil goes through great lengths to keep her silent. Celia tries to gain strength through God to get over the obstacles that have been placed before her. Celia will soon find out that with God, all things are possible.

T.N. Williams has done an outstanding job with this story of betrayal and what it really means to put all of your faith in the Lord. In Something On The Inside, it seems like you can feel every emotion that Celia goes through. You will see the heartache that Khalil puts her through, and the revenge she sets out to get once she realizes what demonic acts Khalil has committed. With each character, the author did a good job explaining how each person was affected by the betrayal and the separation that happened.

In this day and age, we as a community frown upon seeking professional help with matters that occur with our families. T.N. Williams went into great detail on how we need to embrace going to God for help, but seeking professional help is not such a bad idea either. I commend the author on this book. With reading Something On The Inside, you will soon learn how certain topics are not mentioned in our community, church, or even in our families. This was a great read, and I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban Reviews

SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE started off as a fine story, however, it didn't take too long for me to almost put the book down in frustration and anger. The book is about a upper-middle class family that seems to have it all; nice home, successful careers, well behaved children. When the mother, returning home early from a business trip, discovers her husband having sex with their thirteen year old daughter, their idilic life is shattered. This is where I started to hate the book. The mother's reaction was not that of a protective mother or a woman who we are led to believe is grounded in the Word of God. She starts to question and search for "anything that would indicate that she (the daughter) didn't enjoy what Khalil(the father) did to her." Throughout the first part of the book, the main character, whines about what her husband did to her. She keeps the children out of school, does not report to the police and only goes to the "clinic" after she fears her daughter may be pregnant. There is even a scene where the mother, who, after the daughter asks her mother for some privacy while she undresses, tells her daughter "You don't have anything that I don't have. If you can let your daddy see your naked behind, then this should be a walk in the park." This is not something anyone, especially a woman of God, should say to a thirteen year old who has been RAPED. She moves in with her twin who is not saved, and virtually separates herself from the church because she fears what the other church folk will say. This book does not speak well for Christians or how they may react in a crisis situation. The Bible passages felt like they were thrown in just so this book could be considered a Christian novel. It did not speak to me or uplift me at all. The main character makes bad choice after bad choice, buying a gun; shooting at her husband; allowing her daughter to give up therapy...the list goes on. Periodically, she goes to the Bible for a Word to lift her spirits. In the end, the daughter traps her father in his own web and everything ends on an up note... albeit, a false note. I am so glad I got the book from the library!

If the author did her homework, the book doesn't speak well for the laws of the state the story takes place (Mich.) I live in a state where, if you bring a minor in for an examination for sexual assault, the physican is mandated to report it to the police. I thought that was the case with all the states...What's wrong here?

I gave the book three stars because it was a good effort. It did get my blood boiling, but.... I don't know if I would read anything else by this author in the future.

Something On The Inside by T.N. Williams provides proof that every marriage is not what it seems on the surface. Celia Alexander has it all. She is lovely, successful, with two beautiful children and a handsome, successful husband, Khalil. They are living the life that many dream of. They live in a beautiful home; their kids, Kaleia and Caleb, are enrolled in a private Christian school and the Alexanders are faithful servants of God, attending church regularly.

Celia is feeling particularly blessed because her job involves a great deal of travel and her kids are at home safe with their father. What more could a woman ask? While on one of her trips, Celia decides to return home early. She misses Khalil and the kids and cannot wait to be back in the comfort of her home, and in the comfort of his arms. What she does not realize is that she is in for the shock of her life. Upon her return home, she catches her husband committing an unspeakable act which causes her to take her kids and flee. Readers will get to see how in an instant, lives can change dramatically.

Something On The Inside is a realistic look at a dirty little secret that occurs in many families. Sexual abuse is explored in the book without being salacious or graphic. T.N. Williams handles it in a Christian format without being preachy, while allowing the readers to feel for the characters. I recommend this book to all readers who enjoy a well-told, timely story with a spiritual message of healing and overcoming.


Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

Something on the Inside is a triumph. Author TN WIlliams has penned a believable tale of the ultimate betrayal and what it means to truly depend on God's grace. You felt each heart wrenching emotion and carnal urge of revenge that main character, Celia had to endure. Antagonist, Khalil Alexander demonstrated how deep mental illness and addiction can run and how hard it is to admit the problem and seek help.The events were brillantly paced making this book a real page turner. I found it impossible to put the book down until it was done. The couples two children, Kalea and Caleb, Celia's Twin sister, Alicia, and their parents round out the cast of charcters and show the true effects of betrayal and separation on the family. The author did a good job interweaving the specific details of this type of abuse, as well as,seeking counseling that has long since been frowned on in our community. In the end the author uses the right topic to show the extent of God's love and deliverance. It leaves you wondering what you would have done in the same situation and questioning the strength of your faith. In the times we are living in its good to check your relationship with God every once in awhile.

I just finished reading this book. This is the the best christian fiction I have read. And it's reality. I read a couple of pages of the book,and had to stop reading to composed my thoughts. You just never know who the person you married. I love the Scriptures quoted in the book. Celia is a strong woman of GOD, she held on to her faith and what she believes in. Anything is Possibe with GOD, when we take matters into our hands, we add more to our problems. This is a book worth reading. What it's about is surprising. First Christian book I read on this topic.

I couldn't put this book down. Williams touched on a few issues that the black community have a hard time dealing with. Celia is a strong woman who depended on her faith to get her through her storm. The emotions were so real. This is one book that I strongly recommend everyone to read.

Celia Alexander has it all: a rewarding career, a loving husband with a six-figure income, and two wonderful children. Lacking nothing, she and her husband, Khalil, are solid Christians. From the mini-mansion to the luxury vehicle, the Alexanders appear to have the perfect life.

Celia's perfect world comes crashing down, when upon returning home earlier than expected from a business trip, she discovers the man she has spent the past fifteen years loving, doing the unthinkable. In a matter of minutes, everything she believes in and thought to be important is challenged.

Something on the Inside is labeled as Christian fiction, yet, it is the horrific reality of thousands. Ms. Williams boldly pulls the immoral band-aid off wounds that have been concealed for far too long and forces us to deal with the issue of sexual abuse in the family. As Christians, no longer can we stick our heads in the sand. The saying, "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger", is no longer an excuse for silence.

I strongly recommend this book to everyone facing the devastation of sexual abuse.

Wanda B. Campbell
for The Culture Clique Book Club

This could have been a good book. The set up seemed like an interesting story, but the main character Celia was just so WEAK! She was so super weak it was disgusting. The author made it seem that because you she is a Christian, that she has to be so passive in light of the worst circumstances. SPOILER ALERT!!! This woman walks in and SEES her husband raping their daughter and she does nothing! No police report??? The neighbors would have been the ones to call the. cops to my house from all the screaming he would have been doing. Then all she does is sit around and feel sorry for herself. The only reason I finished this book was because i'm one of the people who doesn't like to not finish a book once I started. The other day i accidentally got the sequel to this book. Once I realized who the characters were I wanted to stop reading. This book seems a bit better since some of the story is told from the daughters perspective, but Celiais still as much of a loser as she always has.

Khalil is hiding a dark secret from his wife, Celia, that will soon shatter every heart involved.
Celia never thought that the man she loved could hurt the family as he does but when she discovers his dark secret she take their children, Kaleia and Caleb, and runs with them to protect them from him. It may take her a while to come to grips with the entire situation and how to handle it but she proves to be a mother that will do whatever it takes to protect her children.
T.N Williams takes you on an emotional rollercoaster to show you that no matter how good something looks from the outside, there is always "Something on the Inside." I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it is one that you don't want to put down until you have finished and I highly recommend it.