Soulful Strut [Mass Market Paperback]

Lynn Emery (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2006

When Monette Victor is finally released from jail, 15 years after being framed and wrongfully convicted, she enters a whole new world. Suddenly famous and in demand, Monette finds herself going on book tours and hosting a radio talk show. But she has no intention of making her whole life about this one episode. Monette is determined to make sure other young women have better chances than she did. She throws herself into her volunteer work, standing up to anyone and everyone who tries to tear her down.

But it's not as easy to stand up to the doubts in her own mind, and those doubts are putting her budding relationship with good–looking business owner Jayson Odum on the rocks. Will the hard shell Monette has needed to get by blind her to the possibility of finding love with a good man? Only when she believes that she deserves the good things in life will Monette be able to see what she has with Jayson as the blessing it truly is.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lynn Emery is a native resident of Louisiana. A licensed clinical social worker, she has been an expert consultant for articles on relationships and single women for the popular magazine Today's Black Woman. Her first novel was recognized by Romantic Times Magazine for Excellence in Romance Fiction in 1995. In 2000, she was nominated for the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award in Multicultural Romance Fiction.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HarperTorch (November 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060731044
• ISBN-13: 978-0060731045
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,879,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lynn is the author of fifteen romantic suspense and mystery novels. A native of Louisiana, most of her books are set in her home state. NIGHT MAGIC was recognized for Excellence in Romance Fiction by Romantic Times Magazine. Her novel AFTER ALL was adapted for a television movie by Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 2000. Lynn has been nominated several times for awards, and in 2006 won three Emma Awards for Kiss Lonely Goodbye as part of the Romance Slam Jam conference. Her latest novels are
A Darker Shade of Midnight, a paranormal murder mystery, and Best Enemies, a cozy mystery.

Happy reading!

What reviewers have had to say about Lynn's books:

"Beginning with the cover, this book is superbly written and rendered. It's beautiful and the storyline is enthralling." Francine Craft (A Darker Shade of Midnight)

"AFTER ALL...is a brilliant expose of the dark secrets that lurk in the gutters and spires of a southern metropolis, complete with murder, passions and spine-tingling suspense." Romantic Times Magazine

"A superb storyteller." Greg Langley, The Advocate (Sweet Mystery)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars deep character study, December 9, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soulful Strut (Mass Market Paperback)

Monette Victor spent fifteen years in prison claiming all along that then Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana DA Winn Barron falsified information that framed her. Now paroled because of new evidence that exonerates her, but not fully freed as she still belongs to Louisiana Department of Corrections, Monette vows to build a new life avoiding the mistakes that made her an easy mark for Barron. Having written a book, the media including Couric make Monette a star, but she vows to herself not to let all the attention get to her head.

At New Beginnings where she is staying, Monette and Jayson Odum, owner of Quality Car Care Service, meet; the attraction is incredible as each feels the same desire for the other. They begin to see one another and fall in love. However, as her confidence grows in terms of her new foundation, Monette has doubts about relationships as her partying youth made her an easy target to convict her on drug selling. Unless she can overcome her fears about her own nature, Monette will remain imprisoned in a jail created by her mind.

The romance between the lead couple seems unnecessary as SOULFUL STRUT is more a deep character study of a person getting a second chance at life. Though Jayson is a nice person, the tale belongs to Monette exclusively as she tries to balance the injustice she suffered from with her own culpabilities that led to making her an easy prey. Readers will root for her to make it as an underdog thriving to prove to everyone including herself who considered her an unworthy loser.

Harriet Klausner

3.0 out of 5 stars Soulful, but Strut Takes Too Long to Get Down the Road, June 11, 2007

By 

S. Haskins "PoetryDiva" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soulful Strut (Mass Market Paperback)

This is my first time ever reading a novel by Ms. Lynn Emery. I like her writing style and how well developed her characters are. She really digs deep, maybe a little too deep however with lots of "in the mind" narrating and not a lot of dialogue. Dialogue doesn't really pick until the latter pages which made the story drag in my opinion. I think flashbacks would have helped to give more incite and put the readers in Monette's past a little bit. I think it would have been more exciting, because the story comes across as if it's a sequel, and I actually checked online to see if it was. I agree with the other reader that the romance between the main characters seemed unnecessary, and it comes across as rushed and thrown in.

If you're taking a long road trip you may not mind reading this book, as it takes it time in strutting to get you there...soulfully.

5.0 out of 5 stars A BET/HMO movie in the making!, December 11, 2006

By 

Denise Bolds "Lion Who Reads A Lot!" (New York United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soulful Strut (Mass Market Paperback)

This story is wonderful! Real, intriguing and revealing!As an MSW, I was able to recognize Ms Emery's CSW touches in this story! Monette was wrongfully accused and paid dearly - instead of being bitter and vindicitve,Monette is ready to start a new life of healing ,giving and joy. Jayson is charming, sexy and successful. I love this story as it revolves around women and a very pogniant issue involving women and prison. This story was written with a high level of maturity and intrigue. I can EASILY see this story beoming a BET/HMO movie! and a successful one at that! I always enjoy Ms. Emery's work and this story does not disapoint!