Customer Reviews

Standing in the Shadows of Lov

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

 

 

If you like the television hit "Sex in the City", you will LOVE this new book by Nina Corbett. It's fun and sexy, and any single gal, or any gal at all, will love the stories of dating mishaps. This tale of real life love, family, friendship and dating ups and downs speak to a woman of any age.

There are two heroines in this book-Ashley and Maya-and what I loved was that they are both so real and true to life about being 30-ish and single-wanting a baby-wanting a boyfriend-all while juggling a career. It really hit home with me. I loved that they are both women with full careers and full lives-but they have very distinct voices. Just like in real life -just because you are the same age and are friends doesn't mean you are the same person. And it was doubly fun to explore the crazy world of television production in which they both work.

Maya is the nicer, softer version-so much of a softie that I think anyone will recognize that pain of being in the wrong relationship but being too tired to get rid of it. And I love how real the book is. How true to life. Maya has to deal with the problems of parents getting older and getting sick-the same things that any woman of that age is dealing with. I got emotional reading it! And how quick what you think is love can turn to anger and danger when dealing with the frustrations of men and their egos.

All of this tear jearking emotion so adeptly explored by Nina Corbett after only a few chapters earlier I was laughing hysterically! The dating scenes are funny and spicy, and I especially loved Maya's date with a man Mark that she affectionately calls "Barbeque Boy" and a trick he plays on Maya when they get back to her apartment and things get awkward. I won't ruin the joke for you-but I will say it had me laughing out loud. (I also laughed out loud at the opening scene of the baby shower. Any woman can relate to the "I need a cocktail to get through the millionth baby shower I've been to this month!" craziness that Ashley is going through.)

I love when you get so wrapped up in a book and you can picture so clearly the characters in your head that you cry with them and laugh with them. That is the sign of a great read! "Standing in the Shadows of Love" definitely has all of that.

But the very best thing about this book is that even while it is funny and light in moments and sexy and bantering in others-it also has a lot of heart. It's not just another book about girls dating in the city. It goes much deeper-including exploring with Ashley the idea of a woman having a baby without having a partner. A woman with a lot of sass and wit and dreams. And how heartwrenching it can be to try to go it alone and have a child. Feeling like you have to go it alone merely because your body is starting to betray you, and doesn't seem to realize that you can't put a clock on when you are going to meet your Prince Charming. And to top it all off -having a mother who is always trying to set you up! A mother who loves Ashley so much that she drives her crazy! Who can't relate to that!?!

The author handles deftly the trials and tribulations of trying to find someone special while you are trying to have a baby on your own. And I definitely loved the interaction between the two friends and in turn their circle of friends. I was completely pulled into their world.

I had a great time reading "Standing in the Shadows of Love". It was fun and sharp and heart wrenching and I think a woman of any age or color would love this book. It deftly transcend color and gender lines to capture the true voices of women and men. Men and women falling in love and experiencing the joy and pitfalls of just plain living.

I have recommended it to all my friends as a great beach read for the summer!

I think the measure of a good novel is when you are still thinking about the stories and characters days and weeks later-

which is why this book is now on my favorites list.

I may loan it out- but only to those few girlfriends that actually return books!

The two central characters Maya and "Ms Ashley" are real women with humor, heartache and spirit. They share a friendship that makes you wish they were just a phone call away. The author Nina Corbett, brought them to life in a very big way and made it so easy to love them both.

Ashley is struggling with her biological clock and the fact that waiting for "Mr Right" may not be what's right for her. Trying to make a life changing choice that everyone around her is against.

Maya is in one of those long-term, on-again off-again relationships that so many of us have been in. Going nowhere so fast your afraid to jump off for fear of spinning out of control. Knowing he's not "the one" but it's just so familiar that you can't quite end it.

Ashley can make decisions where Maya can't, and Maya has patience to a fault! As friends they help bring balance to one another and in the end life surprises them both.

You'll want to hug Kevin, kiss Mark and slap David. Ashley's mother Cora, will make you want to scream. Wendy is the boss we have all hated. Ashley's sweet younger sister Vivian, is what having a sister is really all about.

Great dialogue, good humor, real life emotions and entirely true-to-life stories.

I'll definitely be watching for Ms Nina's next book!

I won't give a synopsis of the book (other reviewers have done an excellent job of that), but I will give my general impressions of the book.

**********WARNING!!!!!**********

This synopsis will contain spoilers for anyone who hasn't read the book, but if you are debating whether or not your should buy it, you may want to continue reading.

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First, I felt the last 100 pages was redundant. I could see the general conclusion way before it actually came, mostly because this book had "Happily Ever After" written all over it. Its very premise encourages you to expect that only the best things in life could happen to the main characters. So finding out that Maya finally kicked David to the curb was no surprise, as was finding out that Ashley and Kevin decided to make a go of it. The "Happily Ever After" finish to the book was such a let-down that it was actually what compelled me to write this review. It was the way the ending was written, in contrast to the way it ended, that was the disappointment. It was almost as if the author was 3/4 done and decided to end it quickly. The ending might have benefitted from a stronger finish and cleaner conclusions, which leads into my second impression...

Second, there were too many unanswered questions at the end of this book. Why did Ashley's mother treat Ashley as she did? Why didn't she treat Vivian the same way? Was it because the girls had different fathers, features, situations in life, etc.? I didn't buy the bogus explanation in the last few chapters. No mother is that vindictive to her child without some more compelling reason. Clara (Ashley's mother) reminded me of Savannah's mother in "Waiting to Exhale," only without the good intentions or compelling reasons. Moreover, she made this change of heart because the younger sister demanded it of her? No way, something more is going on there and Ms. Corbett left all the goodies for herself. Also, after all that drama between Ashley and Wendy (Ashley's new boss), what happened? Did Ashley put Wendy in her place or did she simply choke down her feelings and deliver? Did she explain what was going on in her life, allowing Wendy to become a more 3-D character than just a cardboard cut-out of some super-controlling b****? There was nothing of redeeming value to the boss, almost to the point that I felt she could've been left out of the book entirely.

Third, let's talk about the men. I hate to start with David first but he's such a ...I don't even know what to term his characterization. You could see it coming within two chapters of meeting him. All I wanted to know was, "Is she going to file a restraining order on him or does her new man beat him up?" I figured that would make her story interesting and I was waiting for it to happen. Alas, I was doomed to disappointment. Even now, I am still trying to determine why Maya didn't simply kick him out of the apartment the moment she returned from New York. Mark (a guy she was dating and really feeling) said it best, "I was really feeling you and I liked the way things were flowing but now you call me up weeks later...telling me all this...and ol' boy is still living with you. I don't have time for all that. He was hanging around for a reason and now he's nice and comfortable. He's got you right were he wants you. You just haven't figured it out yet." Truer words never spoken.

Then there's Kevin, North Carolina's answer to the knight in shining armor, the one who will make Ashley rethink her commitment to in-vitro fertilization. Except he has his own set of demands, namely her ceasing the in-vitro while attempting to pursue a relationship with him. Now granted, I understand that not every man wants to date a woman who is actively trying to get pregnant while they're dating, but a baby is the one thing Ashley has wanted for a long time. It's not like Kevin is asking to be her baby's daddy, nor did she ask him to. It simply seems to me that if he was really interested in her, he would understand why this baby was so important to her and where she is in her life that makes the baby so important. If Kevin didn't want to date an expectant mother, he doesn't have to, but don't ask her to give up something she wanted for so long.

Well, I think that's enough for this synopsis. There are other small issues I have, but those are the biggest ones that will prevent me from buying the book. I will look forward to Ms. Corbett's next book and I hope that the characterization, plot, and story are stronger.

This was a really good book and I was sad that it was so short. In "Standing in the Shadows of Love" we read two intertwining stories of good friends Maya and Ashley. Two, hard-working single women in their thirties, they are facing the challenges of balancing careers and personal lives with the reality of being single at their age.

Maya's hanging on to a man whose no good, but they've been together for so long it's hard for her to let go. We follow her as she tries to decide if hanging on to the familiar or turning her back and looking for a new love is the best way to go. There is a lot of drama and many twists-and-turns in Maya's story!

Ashley on the other hand has pretty much given up on men and as she deals with being single and childless at 35 decides to look into alternative options for becoming a mother. In the midst of all of this, she goes on a mercy blind date with Kevin, a guy her mother has been pushing down her throat, just to get Mom off her back. It's a treat to follow her story as she tries to decide whether modern medicine or old-fashioned love will be the answer to her life's dream.

One of my few complaints about this book was that the ending was too rushed and you'll wish there was more focus on Ashley's quest for love.

This book was great and you could tell from the first couple of pages. In a world were a lot of books seem to be a copy this one stands out. I like how freshly it is written, this is a must have, I am in my twenties and have told everyone I know about this book. Even after you've finished this book you'll be looking for more novels written by Nina Corbett, just like I did. This book is about the tests of life that two women go through the ups, downs, triumphs and falls. I like the fact that this book shows the realness of our everyday lives. If you don't already have go and get it.

I read this book in two days. It's not too complicated but anyone who has found themselves in a relationship or is rolling in their 30's will be able to relate to it will be nodding their head in agreemement.

This book was incredible. I am a very picky reader and usually buy books written by a select few, eg., Walter Mosley, Omar Tyree or Dianne McKinney-Whetstone. However, I am always on the look-out for new authors to add to my collection. Nina Corbett hit the nail on the head with this book. I really enjoyed the story because it felt like I was sharing and listening with two of my good friends. Ms. Corbett's unique way of telling a story allowed me to express some sort of emotion at each chapter--whether it was laughter, sadness or utter "hands on my hips" disbelief.

I also enjoyed the way the title and the chapters related to well known songs. Ms. Corbett also impressed me with the list of questions at the back of the book. It made me want to start my own book club just so that I could share this book with others!!!

"Standing In The Shadows Of Love" is a real page turner and has a story that every woman can relate to. I look forward to Ms. Corbett's next novel.