Customer Reviews

Talk to Me (Urban Christian)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the novel Talk to Me by Pat Simmons, the author introduces readers to Noel Richardson, an independent, wealthy and spiritual businessman with strong family values. His only perceived setback, and to varying degrees, according to supporting characters Mackenzie and Valerie, is Noel's inability to hear. The author intertwines themes of faith and equal opportunity as the main character deals with challenges of acceptance, societal inclusion and developing even keel relationships. After reading Talk to Me by Pat Simmons, I became more enlightened to the challenges and everyday experiences of members of the Deaf population. Reinforced messages throughout the novel are "accept people as they are" and "never make assumptions".


Author Pat Simmons has a great platform with this novel. Readers will close the last page with a sense of understanding and perhaps a more open-minded view of the challenges faced by the Deaf population. The author does a great job of bringing the issues of an underserved population to light, while at the same time delighting readers with an intriguing romance between Noel and Mackenzie. I would definitely read another novel by Pat Simmons.

Talk to Me is a great book! I am an avid reader and Talk to Me is one of the best I've ever read. I found myself laughing out loud - sign of a good book, grinning from ear to ear, and then saying "no she did not"! Once I started reading, I couldn't but the book down. The storyline was intriguing and the characters were well developed. I finished it in two days! You definitely will not be disappointed. Pat Simmons is definitely gifted to write a good story! Thanks Pat for sharing your talent with the world! Leslie Hudson

By now with the other reviews you know the story line, but what I most took from this book is the fact that it shows you how God can guide you to a better place in your life, no matter your situation.

There was a part in the book where Noel told lana a scripture, he said "Our own righteousness is like filth unto God" Wow! I allways believed in my own righteousness but that verse really humbled me.

In this book I read about two people that I can relate to and that is truly refreshing, Enjoy the book...it is well worth it!!!

Talk to Me
by Pat Simmons - Urban Christian Fiction

What do you do when the world hands you lemons? You make lemonade.

Lemonade is exactly what Noel Richardson sets out to make of his life. Yet, as noble as his goal is, Noel will soon find that his attempts to apprehend all the right ingredients at the same time is not as easy as he initially thought.

Life for the teenage Noel drastically changes for him and his family after an accident leaves him deaf. His loss of hearing sets him on a course to develop skills that will help compensate for the silence he now lives in. That course will be littered with those insensitive to his communication needs.

Noel's determination to succeed in all aspects of life is assisted by his relationship with God. As he grows in his faith, his thirst for more is not being quenched within the current ministry he is a member of. Unfulfilled with closed-captioned messages provided by television ministry, Noel's days are filled with a need for inner peace. His daily search comes to a blessed end when he discovers the love of his life and the Deaf Ministry he needs, in one place. What Noel will soon discover is that life without volume is about to be turned up.

Within the pages of Talk to Me, Pat Simmons has done an admirable job of bringing attention to the trials of the deaf as they make their way through what we consider a normal day. With memorable prose and thought-provoking passages Ms. Simmons sheds light on the necessity of vulnerability for all relationships we enter into; especially the one we must maintain with ourselves.

Reviewer -- Dr. Linda Beed
On Assignment Reviews

Author Pat Simmons has written a beautiful Christian Fiction story that takes us into the life of the deaf, a place that is not easily understood by those who have been blessed to hear.

As a teen, a terrible accident robbed Noel Richardson of his hearing and changed his life and the lives of his parents and two brothers forever. Communication became more than being able to hear someone speak to Noel, but understanding them when they spoke was a challenge that was not easy to overcome. However, learning sign language, and the gift of reading lips helped him to continue his education and become a successful business owner. Since Noel was able to talk when he lost his ability to hear, it was a plus in talking to others, although not knowing the volume of his voice was sometimes a nuisance to others. But the most important thing that helped in Noel's recovery was giving his life to God and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues after losing his hearing.

Noel's experience with God did not change the fact that it was difficult to find a church that had a Deaf Ministry that could meet his needs by continuing to minister to his needs. He finally stopped attending his local church and watched the ministries on television with closed captions, but they did not really meet his needs either.

Upon moving to a new neighborhood, Noel found himself driving through the neighborhood one Thanksgiving morning and seemingly happened upon a church that drew his attention. The blessing that awaited him inside was the answer to his prayers. The Deaf Ministry was all Noel had been praying for and more, as he gave himself over to the anointed hands of Mackenzie Norton, who allowed the Lord to use her when she ministered during the service from beginning to end.

Mackenzie's friend, Valerie Preston, was the leader of the Deaf Ministry, however, she was caught up in finding the man that God had for her, and his name started with an "N." As much as Noel and Mackenzie's relationship grew in love and trust, there was still the matter of not only Noel's hearing problem, but Mackenzie wanted him to trust God to restore his hearing. However, there was more to this than Mackenzie knew; they both had to come to a place of knowing themselves personally and accepting the person they loved in each other.

I enjoyed Talk to Me because it was written from the point-of-view of a character that could not hear, and I was able to understand how difficult that could be, to a degree. Although, I admit that I was looking for a little more in this area, I learned more about what a deaf person must deal with on a daily basis and how the written word and sign language does not always interpret what someone is feeling. Being able to talk to a deaf person is not always enough and the ability to talk to them is not just in the interpretation. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a love story ordained by God.

Review by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
Apooo BookClub

Noel Richardson seems to be every woman's dream man. He's educated, wealthy, and very handsome, but the outward appearance does not characterize a man. During Noel's teenage years, he was in an accident that caused him to become deaf. Noel never responded when woman tried to get his attention. The only one he could hear was the voice of God.
Since his life has been turned upside with losing his hearing, it was very hard for him to find a church to fellowship with and he felt his spirit was faltering. That was until he found out about God's Grace Church where he became engrossed with an interpreter by the name of Mackenzie Norton. To Noel, Makenzie was intriguing, stubborn and a steadfast believer in the Lord. With the help of Mackenzie, Noel could hear the unthinkable.

Talk To Me is a book about a hearing-impaired man that has overcome some very difficult obstacles. In the beginning, the book was a little slow; but the more you read, the more the book becomes a must read, and you will not want to put it down. When you turn your life over to God, nothing is impossible and that shows true with the story of Noel. Pat Simmons did an exceptional job with balancing romance and scripture within the book. Talk To Me shows how you can overcome any roadblock as long as you have God on your side.

Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban-Reviews

This book was a great read and has went into my collection of my favorite reads in Christian literature. Having my own dilemma of knowing God's voice, reading this book helped me examine my relationship with God and learn to trust Him no matter how unordinary the message may be. Pat Simmons uses an uncommon type of character to show us how you really know when God's speaking and if you listen carefully, He will lead you to your destiny---a happy, fulfillng one.

This is great!! Particularly funny, heart grabbing, refreshing, and sexy. If you are a spiritual, romantic person (male or female), I highly recommend this read. I will be waiting on more greatness to come from Mrs. Simmons!!

I really enjoyed this quiet romance between Noel and Mackenzie. This was a story that warmed my heart and quicken my soul.

Love is most definitely an "action" verb. And Ms Simmons keeps the action going with each page that is read. With each page, even though Noel couldn't hear and Mackenzie was his interpreter at church,they found each other through the beat of their hearts. I could actually feel the love they shared.

Through it all, I laughed, I cried, and I rejoiced. My kind of read.

This was my first time reading work by this author and, it will not be the last.

Myra Rutledge,
Birmingham, Al

I enjoyed this book and managed to read it in a few days which says something about the quality of the writing and the story-line. It had a nice easy going pace with short chapter lengths which encouraged you to read onto the next chapter. I liked the use of scripture, the characters were believable and not too many significant characters to have to remember. The most interesting part for me was getting a slightly better understanding of what it is like to be deaf - it certainly made me think while reading it. Good book, would recommend it to others.