Marilynn Griffith

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!… (más)

Lily Chau is the next member in the Garments of Praise team that we get to meet. She's in her late thirties, taking care of her sick mother, trying to get her foot into the fashion industry and trying to figure out her relationship with her boyfriend. She gets invited to compete in a Project Runway-like reality show with the help of a famous designer. Little does she know that the designer is the mysterious stranger that she keeps running into and finding a growing attraction with. Lily has to decide how she will manage her mother, her fashion, her boyfriends, and her life.

This is one of the first Christian fiction novels where there is an Asian American female lead character. AND she happens to not be an immigrant or someone living in the 1800s . There aren't many Asian Americans portrayed without any sort of stereotypes in books in general so this was a welcome relief. I felt that Lily's character was very real. I understand her insistence of taking care of her mother. Family is very important in Asian culture. Like in Pink, I enjoyed seeing the going ons behind the fashion industry. And I also loved that while Lily is slightly bothered at being almost 40 and still not married, she's still managed to create a name for herself and not be bothered too much by it. I liked the contrast in Doug and Ken. Lily's mom's story with her dad was very moving and sad. The only thing I didn't get was when Lily and Doug first met. The way it was written, Doug looked like a homeless person and Lily falls head over heels for him like that. Now maybe I'm just being paranoid, but if I was alone on a street and a stranger looking like that came up to me, I'd be a little scared. Lily just seemed like she had let her guard down completely which is not a safe thing to do in a city at night.

I really enjoyed this book. The series is great as it focuses on different ethnicities. I'm really looking forward to reading Tangerine.… (más)

My Synopsis:

Songs of Deliverance by Marilynn Griffin continues the story of Zeely, Ron, Grace and Brian and all the other people who interact in their lives from Griffin's novel Rhythms of Grace. This novel ties together all the stories that left readers wanting more. It can be read and easily understood as a stand alone book as well.

Zeely and Ron face the fact that they are both in love with each other, yet they are engaged to other people. Their relationship is one of loss and heartache, yet at it's center there is a deep abiding love for each other and their faith.

Grace struggles with who she really is and must face up to her past and the circumstances that brought her back to the town of Testimony. Brian watches and waits as he tries to help Grace find the true meaning of love.

My Thoughts:

This book has many layers. The story of each character is intertwined with the other in complicated and interesting ways. I found myself wondering who was related to who and how many twists and turns the story would make.

It seemed as though the action in the story began on the first page and never stopped. Revelation after revelation continued on each page. It was a bit daunting to try to figure out how the story would end. The fast paced rhythm was different from most novels and definitely kept me interested.

The issue of faith in this book was handled in a very open manner. It was central to the story and tied everything together. The characters explored how they felt about their faith and how that faith was to be manifest in their daily lives. I found this refreshing.

Another underlying theme of the book was tolerance and being able to judge people, not based on what color they were or where they came from, but on their hearts and what they believed and did in their lives.

Available January 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Overall I thought this was a wonderful book. I give it 4 out 5 apples from my Book Bag.… (más)

From the back cover:
Once, twice, ten times a bridesmaid!

I, Dana Rose, do solemnly swear to say "I won't" the next time someone asks me to be in their wedding party. My weak will has gained me a closet full of unflattering bridesmaids' dresses in various sizes to accommodate my ever-fluctuating waistline.

As if that isn't enough, the past is paying me a most unwelcome visit (my prodigal brother, my back-stabbing sis). Then there's Mr. Practically Perfect, the ex who not only married someone else, but opened the business of our dreams -- right across from my new shop! It's no wonder I've got problems! I'm thankful I've got my friends, the Sassy Sisterhood, to rely on . . .

The Sassy Sisterhood:
They get by with a little help from their friends.

Risa's review:
This book is a "chick lit/Christian fiction" type of novel. The story line had potential but it was really boring. The story started off light with some humor but as it progressed it became heavier and heavier.… (más)