-- feeling bittersweet; wanna buy; can't buy (a la Chris Rock's "wanna cheat, can't cheat" comedy routine)
1.
Stephanie Perry Moore's A Love Like No Otha'
Surviving life's setbacks through her relationship with a man who helps restore her faith in God, Zoe Clark discovers A LOVA' LIKE NO OTHA'. When thunder and lightning strike on the morning of Zoe Clark's wedding, her seemingly perfect world is turned upside-down as she loses her fiancÈ to a pregnant girlfriend she never knew he had. With her engagement shattered, all her life's plans seem over. Unemployed, sinking deeply into depression, and wrongly blaming God for her troubles, Zoe seriously contemplates ending her life. But God sends Chase Farr to reintroduce Zoe to the importance of having God in her life. Yet when Zoe's friendship with Chase turns romantic, he suddenly backs away--further confusing Zoe with his decision to remain a virgin. Through life's twists and turns of celebration and sorrow, Zoe ultimately learns what it means to truly trust in God--but in the end, does this revelation come too late to fix things with Chase?
2.
Tajuana Butler's The Night Before Thirty
A young African American female DJ, Louisa Montero, sponsors a contest to celebrate her birthday. She has a drawing to take five listeners who have the same birthday and are about to turn 30 on a cruise to the Bahamas. The winners of the Night before Thirty contest are women from across the country. Alecia Jewel Parker, from L.A., is a talented young lady who uses her beauty to get what she wants from men. Catara Edwards, from Brooklyn, is an aspiring fashion designer working at Saks as a personal shopper. Elise Ross, from Louisville, Kentucky, is a former Olympic contender and has just opened a gym in her neighborhood to teach children gymnastics. LaShawnda Davis, from Atlanta, was rescued from her meager existence and shown a different life by a black female psychiatrist. Tanya Charles, from Chicago, has been in a long-term relationship with a man who sells drugs and firearms. Each of these women comes on the cruise eager to have a good time, develop new acquaintances, and make decisions about their futures. Lillian Lewis
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3.
Michele Andrea Bowen's Second Sunday
The author of Church Folk once again takes us on a hilarious journey into the inner sanctums of African American church life. In 1970s St. Louis, members of the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church prepare to celebrate its 100th year anniversary. However, with the unexpected death of its pastor, the church faces a terrible dilemma: finding a new pastor not only in time to prepare for the church centennial, but also in time to ensure the survival of the church itself! It seems as though everyone has a strong opinion about who the new pastor should be. Bowen weaves the hilarious stories of several church members as they plan, plot, and connive ways for their favorite candidate to win the pastorship. Will they be able to sort out their differences before the anniversary? God only knows....
4.
Jacquelin Thomas' A Change is Gonna Come
A Change Is Gonna Come is the perfect title for this story about friendship, faith and forgiveness.
Ms. Thomas introduces four friends who work together at St. Paul County Human Services. To the outside looking in, these ladies have their stuff together.
Cordelia is a God fearing woman who has let her religion take over her life. Not realizing her actions have shut out her husband and daughter. A announcement from her daughter changes her life forever.
Bonnie's life revolves around the office. She has made her co-workers her family. Afraid to live after the death of her husband. She doesn't realize she is just existing day to day until a tragic circumstances with Cordelia makes her wake up.
Tangie is the perfect lady during the day and a hot mama at night. Her hatred for her mother's lifestyle has made her make decisions that will come back to haunt her.
Sabrina knows every bodies' business but her own. She thinks having a rich man to take care of her will make her life wonderful. Her dreams come true only to turn into her worst nightmare.
Ms Thomas shows with these ladies how the Lord works in everyone's life. He knows what they needed and he supplies it. He had to whip these friends back in shape and let them know that he had never left them even when they thought he did. He shuts one window only to open another one.
These ladies were co-workers who learned to be even better friends and how to trust in the Lord. He showed them that out of their sorrow goodness comes. You just have to believe that a change is gonna come.
**I need to get a book purchasing sponsor.
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