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SHOW ME THE SUN - Mariam Shumba Genesis Press/Indigo January 2010 |
SYNOPSIS:
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE |4| Marguerite Lemons
REVIEW:
Raven Davies is considered the “black sheep” of
her family, literally. The members of her father’s church and complete strangers
have always commented on the fact that she looks nothing like her parents or
siblings simply because her complexion is much darker.
Amari Thomas, a star basketball player for the Detroit Pistons, is used to
having women fall at his feet. What he can’t figure out is why Raven Davies, the
social worker at The Phillips Center for Children was treating him like a leper
when the only thing he is trying to do is help the program.
Raven’s self-esteem is in shambles after years of being made to feel unworthy by
members of the community, and her so-called friends. So, she initially ignores
Amari’s attempts to get to know her, because she feels unworthy. Amari makes her
feel like a queen and turns her life around, only to embarrass and shame her
when he makes the mistake of a lifetime by having a one night stand with movie
star Lexie Hart. Suddenly, Raven has to decide if her marriage is worth saving,
or if she’ll just save face by divorcing Amari and moving on with what’s left of
her life.
SHOW ME THE SUN
takes you from Detroit, to Los Angeles and Kenya with a cast of characters and a
long hidden family secret that keep you turning the pages. Raven’s struggle
reminds us that racism is most damaging when it’s meted out by members of the
community. Raven’s story is a story that is still being “played out” in families
all over the world.
Ms. Shumba is to be commended for finding a creative way to address an age-old
problem. This is one for the bookcase.
reviewer@romanceincolor.com | 17th December 2009