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DREAMS THAT WON'T LET GO - Stacy Hawkins Adams Baker Publishing/Revell January 2010 |
SYNOPSIS: The lives of Indigo, her wayward brother Reuben, and sister Yasmin are about to intersect in dramatic, sometimes painful, and ultimately healing ways.
INSPIRATIONAL FICTION |4| Patricia Sykes-Brown
REVIEW:
Indigo
Burns is all grown up and preparing to marry Max Shepherd, the man of her
dreams. Long unresolved anger and secret issues threaten to destroy the love,
peace, and happiness of the Burns family with the return of the prodigal Reuben
and the runaway Yasmin. The hidden truths are exposed about the automobile
accident, Reuben’s long absence, and the dysfunctional family—an alcoholic
mother and an emotionally absent father rearing traumatized children.
Indigo Burns is intelligent, talented, but resentful of the attention her
brother is getting, and displays immaturity. Max, Aunt Melba, and Rachelle
provide good spotlights to direct her path. However, Max is just too loving and
patient to be believable.
Ruben uprooted his family—Peyton and Charles David—to return to Jubilant to deal
wth his demons. Visually challenged Peyton has to adjust to a new environment
while dealing with a child and being a confidante to her husband. Their coping
skills and emotional transparency makes for a dramatic transformation.
Casual mention is made of Shelby and the issue of her interracial marriage to
blue-eyed Hunt, and the challenge of bringing biracial children into a racist
society.
Yasmin’s desire to model, and her association with seedy modeling agencies is a
source of much contention. Dropping out of high school, dressing scantily, and
having a bad attitude will make for a rough path in her life. Notably her
character dramatizes the admonition to parents that no matter how well they try
to equip their children to be successful and acquaint them with God, they have
to make their own choices.
Stacy Hawkins Adams continues her great job of writing and developing the
characters more fully, with greater insight into their multidimensional
personalities. The setting of the small town of Jubilant, Texas does not compare
with opportunities in New York. The characters are more authentic in this third
book in the Jubilant Soul series, as most of the characters are not painted as
perfect, but more believable people dealing with some serious issues. Themes of
survival, healing, judgment, rebellion, love, trust, honesty, faith, protection,
physical handicap, interracial marriage, and nightmares caused by secrets and
lies are woven throughout the story. The writer’s message to be sensitive to
God’s guidance in making decisions and choices and practicing unconditional love
and acceptance is poignantly conveyed. It was unpredictable and an enjoyable
read. As with previous books in the Jubilant Soul series, it is a good teaching
tool loaded with inspiration and wisdom.
reviewer@romanceincolor.com | March 2010