When You Dance With The Devil [Paperback]

Gwynne Forster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2006

“A great story with wonderful life lessons ….”—Books 2 Mention Magazine

After the death of her demanding mother, Sara Jolene Tilman is alone in the world for the first time—and ready for a fresh start. Sara becomes Jolene, and moves into the Thank the Lord Boarding House, an oceanside sanctuary that houses eleven other “misguided souls,” as proprietress Fannie Johnson thinks of them. Surrounded by strangers, Jolene sees how socially awkward—and lonely—she really is. Yet, as she naively begins her search for love and belonging, Jolene finds she’s not alone…

Disillusioned by romance and success, wealthy Richard Peterson has given up his career and registered at Thank the Lord Boarding House. But he is taken aback by the humble surroundings, and the down-to-earth housemates for whom his status means nothing. Still, Richard discovers simple pleasures—and a promising new relationship. Now, with a little help from Fannie, Jolene and Richard will struggle to find themselves—and each other—at last.

“Ms. Forster has given more than a story of redemption; it is a story that encompasses the growth of the inner-self, the cleansing of souls, and an exposure to a time that is strikingly old-fashioned. This story should appeal to the innocence in readers.”—The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Forster (Whatever It Takes; If You Walked in My Shoes) continues her soft-focus chronicle of the Thank the Lord boardinghouse's residents, this time setting a 35-year-old small-town virgin and a high-powered New Yorker on paths to self-discovery. Sara Jolene Tilman, burdened with an ox-sized case of low self-esteem, resolves to finally live life on her own terms after her controlling mother dies. Eager to utilize her new freedom, she moves into Thank the Lord. Meanwhile, Richard Peterson, the by-the-bootstraps executive director of "one of the largest and most prestigious nongovernmental organizations," is suffering a broken heart after learning an old flame is getting married. Burned out from years of globe trotting, womanizing and maintaining his lofty position, Richard heads to Maryland and the boardinghouse. As Jolene looks for love in casual affairs that quickly turn disastrous, Richard tries celibacy and begins funding local community-improvement initiatives. Unfortunately, the characters learn their obvious lessons in dreadfully slow fashions, and Forster's passive prose does little to enliven Jolene's endless self-pitying. But the characters' earnestness will appeal to readers looking for a light pick-me-up. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The Thank the Lord Boarding House sits on the Atlantic coast in Maryland. It is owned by Fannie Johnson and home to an assortment of interesting characters who treat one another like family. For 35 years, Sara Jolene Tilman grew up under the cruelty of her grandmother and mother in Hagerstown, Maryland. After her mother's death, Fannie's brother, Reverend Philip Coles, suggests Jolene sell her home and move to the boardinghouse. At 45, Richard Peterson is a successful executive of a governmental agency and living in Switzerland. He is denouncing his globe-trotting lifestyle and escaping his heartbreak after a former lover announces her wedding. He returns to the States to live near the ocean and moves into the boardinghouse. Jolene attempts to overcome her low self-esteem by getting a job, dating, and finding a female friend. Richard works on overcoming his snobbish demeanor and pledges abstinence. On their paths to self-discovery, Jolene and Richard vow to make fresh starts and learn some hard truths about family, love, and themselves. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758213085
• ISBN-13: 978-0758213082
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,247,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ABOUT GWYNNE FORSTER
Gwynne Forster is national best-selling and award-winning author of seven novels of general fiction, thirty-one romance novels, and eight mainstream and romance novellas. All of her mainstream novels and several of her romance novels have been featured in Black Expressions Magazine. When Twilight Comes, her first mainstream novel, was featured on the magazine's cover, and it also remained on the Essence Magazine list of best sellers for several months. Her latest mainstream novels, A Different Kind Of Blues and Getting Some of Her Own were published in October 2007 snf 2008, respectively to excelledt reviews. Publiher's Weekly called A Different Kind of Blues "An ode to life...wise and wonderful..."

Among her many awards and forms of recognition, Gwynne is most proud of her election in 2006 to the Affaire de Coeur Magazine Hall Of Fame and of the Life Time Ahcievement Award conferred by Romantic Times Magazine in 2007. The following novels were nominated by Affaire de Coeur Magazine for 'Best romance novel of the year with African-American Hero and heroine: Ecstasy, Obsession, Naked Soul, Fools Rush In, Swept Away, Secret Desire, Scarlet Woman. Winners of the award were: Beyond Desire,Ecstasy, Naked Soul, Fools Rush In, and Swept Away. Readers of Affaire de Coeur Magazine named Gwynne one of Top Ten Favorite Authors for the years 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2006, and one of five outstanding achievers (1998). Rendezvous Magazine voted Secret Desire "Rose Bud of the month" for November 2003. The 2001 Gold Pin Award from Black Writers Reunion and Conference went to Beyond Desire.

Double Day Book Club and Literary Guild selected Beyond Desire and used the book to start the Black Expressions Book Club. Romance In Color internet site gave its 1999 Award of Excellence to Against The Wind and voted Gwynne Author of the Year. The site voted Flying High runner-up to best romance of the year 2003 and gave it Honorable mention. Romance Slam Jam 2000 nominated Gwynne for the Vivian Stephens Lifetime Achievement Award. Romance Slam Jam 2001 gave Gwynne an Emma Award for her novella, "Learning to Love" in the anthology, Going To The Chapel. Romance Slam Jam 2003 nominated Blues From Down Deep for an Emma Award as best mainstream novel. Gwynne lectures extensively on fiction writing, and on making the first sale.

A native North Carolinian who grew up in Washington, D. C. , Gwynne holds bachelors and masters degrees in sociology, a master's degree in economics/demography and has additional graduate credits in journalism. As a demographer, she is widely published. She is formerly chief of (non-medical) research in fertility and family planning in the Population Division of the United Nations in New York and served for four years as chairperson of the International Programme Committee of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (London, England). These positions took her on official business to sixty-three developed and developing countries.

Gwynne sings on her church choir, loves to entertain, and is a museum hopper, gourmet cook and avid gardener. She enjoys classical music, opera, jazz and blues with her husband with whom she lives in New York City. She is represented by the Steel-Perkins Literary Agency, 26 Island Lane, Canandaigua, NY 14424. Reach Gwynne at P.O. Box 45, New York, N.Y. 10044; E-mail [e-mail]; Web page - http://www.gwynneforster.com -. Blog: http://gwynneforster.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Haunted by your past....who do you blame??, October 23, 2006

By 

Jackie M "jaibeem" (Jacksonville, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When You Dance With The Devil (Paperback)

Gwynne Forster has written a true to life story of your past being a step into your future and present. Sometimes your parents make a mistake in your upbringing, but one lesson that Jolene learns is at some point and time in your life you have to become responsible for what happens in your life. Just because someone doesn't teach you something, doesn't mean that you don't find an alternative to learn. Life sometimes can be a harsh teacher, but Jolene learns that she has to live to learn and that she does. The boarding house is a family knit home and as the residents bond you learn that you don't have to be raised together or belong to the same family blood line to love and respect others as a family. Sometimes your friends become closer than a brother/sister. Rev.Coles has learned also that keeping your mouth shut and doing nothing, can and will backfire on you. Richard is a self made success and has to learn that just being down to earth and real with others will gain him so much more than money and a career can buy. Judd is a realist and has the wisdom that people only dream about. When you step out and take a good look at yourself, you will see things that you don't like and that need to be changed. You learn that real friends don't pacify you by always agreeing with you, and at the same time they don't criticize and deliberately try to make you feel bad. Friends are there through thick and thin and guide you and commend you when appropriate. You actually get a vivid view in the lives of the boarders of Thank The Lord boarding house. A steady pace and you will not know where the story is going and where it will end up. Go get it today and enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars About a 3 and 1/2, September 22, 2008

By 

the lady poet "msshay" (Detroit, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When You Dance With The Devil (Paperback)

Gwynne is my fav author. I have met her and she is sweet and down to earth.

I was slightly disappointed with the book and I LOVE her books. There was a BIG mistake made on in the book and I think the editor's missed it. I was not convinced either that Jolene was that out of touch with life.

I liked all the characters and the storyline. I just felt if Jolene was younger I would have been convinced of her naivete.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about redemption throughout!, September 11, 2007

By 

Mikeisha Best (Mitchellville, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When You Dance With The Devil (Paperback)

I enjoyed every aspect of "When You Dance with the Devil." The storyline exhibited innovation and a good measure of originality, the characters were real, but chief among my reasons for enjoying this story? The way Gwynne Forster writes. Her writing style is inexplicable. Simply put, she has a way with words and she knows how to tell a story.

"When You Dance with the Devil" brings us into the lives of the residents of Thank the Lord Boarding House. The newest residents are Jolene and Richard. As the novel begins, Jolene's acrimonious mother dies after she gave Jolene a lifetime full of heartache and sadness. She had taken care of her mother for several years all by herself. Jolene never received a thank you or any other form of appreciation from her mother. Before she died, her mother instilled into her mind that men were unscrupulous, malicious individuals. After her mother dies, those thoughts remained in Jolene's mind; she began dating for the first time after her mother died and treats men unfairly, even the men who are gentlemanly toward her. After using a considerable amount of men, she receives a dose of her own medicine and soon realizes her wrongdoings. The reader is able to see some character growth in Jolene, but not an overwhelming amount. Jolene's mother truly damaged her because she never told her who her paternal father was. She never takes any steps to try and find him, but there is an interesting sequence as it relates to that situation. After a hellish saga, Jolene receives some light (although some darkness remained) at the end of the tunnel.

In this captivating novel, we are also introduced to Richard. Richard surrendered his once lavish lifestyle of career success, the finer material things, and so many women he is unable to recollect them all. He moves into Thank the Lord Boarding House and meets his first true friend, Judd. While there, he comes to the realization that the things he had prior to moving into the boarding house pale in comparison to the simple things in life such as love and camaraderie. He meets and falls in love with a police officer, Francine. Francine is very strong throughout the novel, something Richard had to get used to because she was not going to change and she let him know that.

This book had somewhat of a Hollywood ending, but don't misinterpret that because things weren't perfect in the end. I recommend this book to mature readers. Not because of the content of the book, but because the style of writing and storyline seem to be suitable to a mature individual. Personally, I was very impressed with this read. Superb!