Customer Reviews

Soulful Strut

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

 

 

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

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.

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!