Pink (Shades of Style, Book 1) (Paperback)

by Marilynn Griffith (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Griffith's latest African-American Christian women's fiction novel is crippled by a confusing structure and a reliance on too many miraculous coincidences.. At the center is Raya Joseph, a talented young fashion designer who has been jilted by her fiancé and whose parents are ensnared in marital troubles. Her boss and friend Chenille introduces her to Flex, a hot, eligible guy from church. As Flex and Raya's romance blooms, Chenille is thrown into her own turmoil, first losing a baby and then learning that her husband has cancer. To make matters even more complicated, Raya has just been hired to design a wedding gown for an ex-friend whom she can't stand. And over everything hangs the shadow of HIV: a minor character is orphaned by AIDS, and Raya's unfaithful parents turn out to be at risk for the disease too. (An author's note at the end of the book urges readers to pray for people with AIDS and points out that the disease disproportionately strikes black women.) Predictably, by the novel's end, Raya has learned about reconciliation and forgiveness, and her faith has deepened. Snappy dialogue partially redeems this generally disappointing story.
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Review
"With poetic description and compelling storytelling, Marilynn Griffith delights readers with every sentence."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Revell (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800730402
• ISBN-13: 978-0800730406
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #812,707 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If You Love Someone, Set Them Free, February 2, 2006

By	The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

When she relocated to New York City, Raya hoped to turn over a new leaf and leave the old things behind. She is on a quest to reinvent herself and prove everyone that she is an independent person who could take the world by storm. Flex is someone who is trying to sprint away from his past. He is an iconoclast trying to break free from the overbearing demands of his father and while also trying to walk the Christian walk but is tormented daily by the sins of the world. When fate sets Flex and Raya on a collision course, what will happen as they constantly cross paths?

Aryanna "Raya" Joseph is a cutting edge designer who is working under her potential at her friend's uniform design business. Raya is striving to manifest her independence from her seemingly domineering, filthy rich father who would like to see her do other things with her life. To him, money is everything and he sacrificed his personal, nurturing relationship with Raya to pursue his financial conquests. Raya on the other hand, wears her heart on her sleeve and will give away her last dime to help someone in need. Having loved and lost, Raya is on a soul-searching mission and is questioning everything she once knew, including God's love for her.

Fletcher "Flex" Dunham Longhurst III is three times phine. With an old soul, his dashing looks and no-nonsense approach, the ladies love this personal trainer. Yet, Flex is focused on his Christian walk and doesn't have time for the frivolous innuendoes of the fairer sex. He is committed to taking care of his mother, building his business and his involvement in various charity programs to worry about much of anything else. Due to the skeletons in his closet, he feels that he is in no position to offer anyone a romantic invitation into his own personal chaos.

When Flex and Raya unite over a charity case, fireworks fly! The sexual tension between them is undeniable. Will Flex be able to embrace his past to accept his future? Will the individual walls that both he and Raya built around their similar, yet secretive upbringings, come tumbling down in time for them to love each other unconditionally?

PINK is a book that reaches out and grabs your attention. It not only has vibrant main characters who have everyday struggles, but it also has a strong supporting cast of secondary characters who add a robustness to this story. Ms. Griffith does a fine job in describing the characters and their feelings by using vivid imagery to weave a tale of truly romantic suspense. This book flows nicely to relate a warm and engaging tale.

Reviewed by Nedine
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pink isn't such a bad color after all, September 20, 2006

By	Deborah "Books, movies, and Chinese Food" (Reston, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I wasn't sure whether I'd like this book since it appeared to be marketed to African-American females, and I'm Asian-American. Luckily I was proven wrong. "Pink" was a breezy refreshing read. The characters seemed real, not preachy or annoying and actually relatable. It was very cool to find out what goes on inside the fashion design world and how a small business operates. And it was very nice to to see the story from Flex's POV and not just assuming what he was thinking from Raya. Looking foward to reading Jade!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing!, April 14, 2006

By	Sheryl Root (Pompano Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Pink was a refreshing read! It's rare to find a book where the physical attraction between two characters is written in a way that is both realistic and honoring to Christ.

Raya and Flex come from similar backgrounds. However, since they are both running from their parents and their past, it takes them a while to realize how similar they are. They are immediately attracted to each other when they first meet on the subway. But mistakes both have made in their past make it difficult for them to see that this attraction, and the deeper feelings that come from it, is something that God has directed and not something that He frowns on.

Marilynn has written some astounding characters. Not just the main characters of Raya and Flex, but the friends and family that support them are also amazingly real. These are people who have made mistakes, in some cases many mistakes, but to whom God is still showing His redemption and grace.

I will be first in line to read any future books from Marilynn Griffith!