Hello. I’m Excited. This is one of my stops during the month tour for But My Soul Is Black by Terrell Williams. This virtual book tour is organized by Write Now Literary Book Tours. This tour runs September 4-29, 2017. Follow the tour here. Book your own tour here WNL
Disclosure of Material Connection:I received this
book for review from Write Now Literary Book Tours and the author. I
was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The
opinions I have expressed are my own. I am posting this in
accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part
255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and
Testimonials in Advertising".
Terrell Williams began life as the 2nd eldest son of 9 children (4 girls and 5 boys) and was reared in less than affluent circumstances. The second in his immediate family to graduate from college, he went on to marry a wonderful woman, and who eventually became the proud parents of 4 children (3 girls and 1 son who is also his namesake).
Mr. Williams enjoys reading and writing poetry, and he has written several plays that have been performed and were well received in Texas. The idea for his debut novel, But my Soul Is Black, lay dormant for many years until Mr. Williams finally finished the novel upon his retirement, fulfilling his dream of becoming a published author. His romantic tale tackles controversial topics such as interracial relationships, generational differences of conceptual thinking about life and love. This novel seeks to remind the readers of the interconnectedness we share as humans, as well as showing that truly, love transcends all!
But My Soul is Black, takes a candid look at interracial romance and the human experience. The book reveals the cultural misperceptions that harm us, and the love that heals us.
My Thoughts:
Bobby Selinski is starting his adult life. His uncle sets him straight about his new
life. Our author writes this story as if
we might be in a corner watching each scene play out. We watch Bobby grow into a man with all the
ups and downs that go along with it.
Bobby has an uncle that is taking him under his wing and helping
to guide him to work his way up into his business.He comes across an interesting character
named Jimbo.Jimbo feels threatened but
it was interesting to watch him warm up to Bobby.Vince is another interesting character.I don’t know if he is the product of his
upbringing but one minute he seems cool and the next he seems ignorant.I found Bobby’s interactions with the men in
this book more fascinating than when he develops a relationship with Karen
Blackwell.But the author has my
interest piqued by how he ends the book.
This is a book that has me remembering how things were during my
childhood. A lot has to do with
upbringing. My parents always taught us
to not look at the color of a person’s skin or their religion – we looked at
the person. But that doesn’t mean that
the people around us felt the same. With
everything that has been happening in the news lately, some would say this is
perfect timing. The sad part is that if
it weren’t for a book tour I probably would never have read this great
book. And I’m certainly interested to know
if Mr. Williams has a follow up coming. I
would also read this book again.
The only thing left is to entice childhood friend Nicholas Wakefield into a truly engagement-ending scandal. The Wakefields are the height of propriety, and Nicholas’s parents have made it clear a wife from the neighboring Bishop family would be unacceptable…
But Nicholas would give up his family and his fortune if Amelia would ever see him as more than just a childhood friend. He’ll go along with her scheme, even if it means ruining them both, because
he’s got a plan that will change her mind about him being merely the boy next door.
Nicholas tried to stay close to Amelia when they insinuated themselves into the crowd around Lady Chisholm, but Amelia kept insisting they should stand apart. He strongly suspected she was trying to insulate him from the scandal she was about to cause. He had no one but himself to blame for her thinking that way. Their whole lives, he’d let his family name hold too much sway. Somehow, he would have to convince her things were different now.
“I rather like the new styles from the continent,” some young miss made the mistake of saying.
“Nonsense,” Lady Chisholm barked. “They stray much too far from tradition.”
From the other side of the group, Amelia spoke up. “I don’t think they stray nearly far enough.”
“Excuse me?” Lady Chisholm gasped.
“I said I don’t think they stray nearly far enough.”
“I heard you, Lady Amelia. I only hoped I was mistaken.”
Amelia frowned. Nicholas thought she might give up, but then her shoulders straightened and she lifted her chin. “Are you mistaken often?”
“Rarely.” Montrose’s aunt peered at Amelia. “And what do you imagine might be appropriate attire for a young lady?”
“Trousers,” Amelia announced.
A murmur went up through the crowd. It was everything Nicholas could do to hold in a laugh. All the more so because he knew Amelia was being honest. In this regard, he was on Lady Chisholm’s side. He’d seen Amelia in trousers a number of times and he knew how distracting it was. Were it to become a popular trend in women’s fashion, the entire country would devolve into anarchy inside a week.
Kimberly Bell writes historical romance from her cabin in South Lake Tahoe or the beaches of
Southern California (it’s a super tough life).
She's a pretty hardcore introvert that loves dogs, cheeseburgers, and occasional day drinking. She also spends way too much time on twitter because she thinks she's super hilarious and she’s trying to get that rumor to catch on.
Many Try to Keep them Apart....Destiny’s Determined to Keep them Together
When Nicolo, a vibrant new employee starts at Heather’s job, he ignites a fire inside her giving her a glimpse at an adventurous future, and she finds herself second-guessing her boring future as a lawyer’s wife. But before she reveals her true feelings, a jealous boss fires
Nicolo, leaving Heather with no chance of finding him.
Fate continues to step in, making sure Heather and Nicolo’s paths cross every five years. Destiny’s determined to keep offering another shot...if they're brave enough to grab it.
Every Five Years is a witty, heartfelt story of true love and what happens when life keeps getting in the way. Full of intrigue, laughter, and love.
Read A Few Excerpt...
Heather paused, rested her weight on his thighs, her mouth opened slightly. Nicolo stared at her in wonder, his eyes probing hers, looking for something deep in her soul. They both froze. Stared. Unable to find the correct words for what they were feeling. A slight breeze whipped her hair up, but she did not move.
Although they sat motionless, their breathing quickened. Without speaking, they knew at that moment.
Excerpt Two...
Nicolo grinned. “Stop? Never. Are you kidding?” He kissed her again, more powerful this time. “Heather, I’ve never loved anyone else, I’ve never found anyone like you and I never will. I should have called you after I left Northford. I should have fought for you every single day. All those years we wasted living apart. Five additional years I could have spent with you in my lifetime. I won’t let another day pass.”
Excerpt Three...
She lingered for several minutes staring at the empty doorway. Shoppers glanced at Heather and her dazed expression. Guilt of what she had done to him resurfaced. Her deep love for him - something she tried desperately to forget - emerged.
Fate. Gone.
Meet The Author...
Christine is a registered dietitian/personal trainer who writes Women's Fiction novels in her spare time. When weight lifting, rock climbing, white-water rafting, and jumping out of airplanes wasn’t enough, she decided to fulfill a dream she had as a child: to write a book.
She's lived in New York her entire life and can’t imagine living anywhere else. She has the beaches, the bay and the city, all a half hour away. She's built memories here with her husband, two silly daughters and a bunch of crazy friends, all whom she loves very much.
When tragedy strikes, Seth Stewart is forced to return home after the death of his beloved father. The unexpected detour forces him to oversee the family’s auto shop and restaurant business, and Seth must kiss the prestigious internship goodbye after his first year at Berkeley Business School. When he collides with his first crush after his arrival, Seth wonders what possibly could have happened to Josefina Anders.
Josefina has hidden many secrets she is too ashamed to share with anyone, especially Seth. When they cross paths again, the urge to relive their past lingers in her mind even though she knows he couldn’t accept her sketchy past. Things get even more complicated when her mother returns, as well as her overly possessive ex, who decides to crash into her fragile existence all over again.
Will Seth’s connection for Josefina be strong enough to see past her secrets, or will he realize he can’t rekindle an old flame?
International Bestselling Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.
#1 Amazon best seller in Love & Romance, March 2015 and April 2014
#1 Amazon best seller in Cats, March 2015 and November 2014
#1 Amazon best seller in Educator Biographies, April 2014
#1 Amazon best seller in Love and Loss, December 2013
A true story of love - a four-time Amazon best seller
I thought that I would never be able to love again after the tragic death of my wife, my partner in life. I was wrong. I do. I fell in love with Kitty and two adorable rescue cats. This is the true story of my journey from love and loss to love once again. My story begins with loss and tears, but it ends with lots of love and laughter.
Love was then.
Love is now.
Love is forever.
"This story will touch you, and you'll be telling your friends about it long after you've finished....Please buy this book and absorb it into your own life's experience. It will make you a stronger person." - T.R Harris, bestselling author of THE HUMAN CHRONICLES SAGA.
"It is one of the most moving books I've ever read. I cried very hard in the early part and rejoiced with the author through the rest." - Nick Russell, bestselling author of the BIG LAKE series
"Sometimes after finishing a book, I will feel something like emotional awe. It is a rare thing, but The Three Kitties gave me that feeling."
"Mike Meyer pens a tender tale of love, loss, and renewal. The depth of emotion is palpable...The Three Kitties will tug at readers' heartstrings, as they ride through the emotional highs and lows of Mike Meyer's remarkable story." - InD'tale Magazine
"It's so remarkably well written that I just couldn't put it down. It was one of those tear jerking, heart stopping, soul stealing, and mind blowing stories that had me up for several hours into the night. I actually read straight through, that is how intense and addicting this story was."
"This is like drinking tea and honey on a cold day."
"This uplifting memoir salutes Coco, Pom Pom, and Kitty -- three angels that rescued the author from his demons and taught him to live life to its fullest." - Bookbub
Snippets:
1.
“I sure love my new home,” Coco purred at me, as I rubbed gently at his backside, which seemed to put him back in seventh heaven. He was loving every second of everything in this new world. “Thank you,” I knew he was saying to me. “Thank you for rescuing me and for giving me such a great new home.” He closed his eyes as I continued rubbing him the way he seemed to love. “Thank you for taking me off the street,” I could hear him tell me. And then came the clincher.
“Thanks, Dad!” I distinctly remember hearing him purr.
2.
I knew that her feelings for me were those that I felt for her. That was obvious. The two of us had clicked from the very start, and passion was in the air. It was clear what we both felt for each other.
But she had a date. I had no idea what that meant, but I hoped—longed—really.
We stood in my driveway just before she got into her car. It was July 10th, less than a week past July 4th, and as I bent down and kissed her, believe it or not, fireworks went off in the distance.
It was an omen.
She looked up at me. I knew she knew that I knew, and I knew that she knew. There was a magnetic connection between us, something unbreakable.
But she had a date.
She waved at me as she drove away, and we both blew kisses to one another. The whole night had been so magical.
But there was an 800-pound gorilla in our midst: Kitty had a date that night.
3.
My journey has been a long one, a difficult one at times, but it has a happy ending. The three kitties in my life have made it so. They have all helped me to become the happy-to-be-alive man that I am today. I now accept rather than cope. I live each day to the fullest, knowing full well that life is a gift, and a very precious one at that. I look back on my life and I often think that I must be the luckiest man in the world. I have so much to be thankful for. The wonderment and beauty of life are both so dear to me.
And, to add a delicious icing to the lovely taste of my life, I can say with total honesty to the whole world, my voice booming into the sky, my dancing feet not caring in the least who might see me, that I have been very fortunate to have done something that brings more sheer delight and wonderful pride to me than anything else that I have accomplished in my life: I have fallen madly, heads-over-heels in love not once, but twice, and how many others can say that?
Thank you, Kitty!
Meet Michael Meyer:
Michael Meyer is the author of mysteries, thrillers, humorous fiction, and non-fiction: Love and romance, laughter and tears, thrills and fears.
His INTERNATIONAL SUSPENSE COLLECTION currently has two books: COVERT DREAMS, Book One; and DEADLY EYES, Book Two.
His CONTEMPORARY/HUMOROUS FICTION COLLECTION currently has two books: THE FAMOUS UNION, Book One; and THE SURVIVAL OF MARVIN BAINES, Book Two.
THE THREE KITTIES THAT SAVED MY LIFE was his heartfelt attempt to make things right again in his life after his first wife died, and putting this true story of love down on paper worked. It was something that he knew he had to do. One reviewer says of this book, "This is like drinking tea and honey on a cold day."
TRIANGLE OF HOPE was written as a testament to the fact that sheer determination on the part of people can bring about hope in even the most hopeless of circumstances.
THE SIR RODNEY VIGNETTES is a collection of humorous anecdotal episodes in the life of an Old World Charmer, allowing the English professor side of Michael Meyer to come forth.
He has resided in and has visited many places in the world, all of which have contributed in some way to his own published writing. He has literally traveled throughout the world, on numerous occasions. He has lived in Finland, Germany, Thailand, Saudi Arabia (where COVERT DREAMS - INTERNATIONAL SUSPENSE COLLECTION BOOK ONE - is set), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (where DEADLY EYES - INTERNATIONAL SUSPENSE COLLECTION BOOK TWO - is set). He gained the wanderlust to see the world, to experience other cultures, at an early age, and this desire has never left him. If anything, it has only gained in intensity as he has aged.
Among the many unique things that have happened to him in his world travels, he has walked the streets of Istanbul with a detective, searching for a pickpocket who got him good. He has ridden on the back of a motorcycle in Tehran while the driver, who spoke not one word of English, pointed out all the sights to him. He has wrestled an Iranian soldier who tried to break into his hotel room in Tehran. He has had the paint completely stripped from his car as he drove across Saudi Arabia in a sandstorm. He has stood on the stage of a busy nightclub in Tokyo, singing "She'll be Coming Round the Mountain When She Comes" to an audience feeling no pain from the Sake they were drinking. He has been chased by a family of mongooses (yes, that is the correct spelling) on the idyllic Caribbean island of St. Croix. And that is just the beginning of his long list of worldly adventures.
As a recent retiree from a forty-year career as a professor of writing, he now lives in Southern California wine country with his wife, Kitty, and their two adorable rescue cats.
SPECIAL NOTE: COVERT DREAMS has recently received a Compulsion Reads endorsement. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Compulsion Reads, this company specializes in reviewing and endorsing those novels that meet its quality standards based on the fundamental qualities of good storytelling. Many books that the company reviews don't earn their endorsement, so this is a pretty big deal.
Be sure to check out his Pinterest writer's page, which includes numerous audio readings, clips, and trailers of his books: http://pinterest.com/temmike/#
