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Angela Benson BET/New Spirit June 2002 (4+) Wayne Jordan |
Inspirational Romance |
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PLOT SYNOPSIS: |
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REVIEW: |
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Angela Benson has always been one of my favorite authors, and over the years I’ve admired her ability to pave the way for the African-American romance to go in new direction. Just a few years ago, she was the first black writer to be published by Silhouette Special Edition. One of my favorites of the earlier Arabesque books is one of Ms. Benson’s - a simply wonderful classic, THE WAY HOME (5). What was interesting about THE WAY HOME was the strong inspirational theme that, unknown to me at that time, was a reflection of Ms. Benson’s own faith. More that a year ago when I hear Ms. Benson would no longer be writing for Arabesque, and was moving to the inspirational romance, I was disappointed. At that time, I’d read very few romances with an inspirational theme, despite my own religious upbringing. Since then, I’ve read several books from the Steeple Hill Love Inspired line, and looked forward to Ms. Benson’s book with anticipation. AWAKENING MERCY has lived up to those expectations. It is a well-written story about forgiveness, and love. The heroine of AWAKENING MERCY, CeCe Williams is a strong, confident woman - a strength that has grown out of a past filled with hurt and humiliation. A past relationship which ends in pregnancy has a profound effect on Cece. Not only does she feel betrayed by her parents, but she no longer feels the need for male companionship. Instead she has dedicated her life to her work, her young son, and to her relationship with God. When she is sentenced to hours of community service by the court for unpaid parking tickets, she is sent to Genesis House, and there meets Nathaniel Richardson. The initial relationship between the two is cautious, but CeCe realizes that Nate is a man with a deep faith in God, and a relationship develops. Ironically, it is Nate’s faith that gives rise to the conflict in the relationship. CeCe’s unwillingness to forgive those who have hurt in the past threatens to tear them apart. Nate does not feel that he can give himself to a woman who is unwilling to forgive. It is only when God intervenes that CeCe is able to see her own unforgiving nature. It is only when she takes the necessary steps to forgive that she is able to truly embrace the Love of God, and find a future with Nate. Ms. Benson, with AWAKENING MERCY, reinforces her place as one of the most talented writers of romance fiction in whichever genre she writes. This book, her first inspirational, confirms that she writes with emotion, only now her massage is strengthened by her strong faith in God. Like all Benson’s old fans, and the numerous ones she is sure to gain with this new book, I look forward to reading the next installment in this inspiring trilogy. NOTE: Originally published by Heartquest/Tyndale in August 2000 |
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wayne@romanceincolor.net (12th September 2000) |
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