A Christmas Prayer

June 1, 2014

Roby takes a break from Rev. Curtis Black's shenanigans to write a Christmas novella featuring Alexis Fletcher, for whom the holidays have been anything but joyous since the death of her mother, who truly entered into the spirit of things. Now that Alexis is about to marry, a surprise event has her humming carols again. With a 100,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014

As Christmas approaches, Alexis Fletcher is feeling depressed about celebrating another holiday without her mother, who died five years earlier. A successful motivational speaker and engaged to the wealthy, gorgeous Chase Dupont, to whom she was introduced to by their pastor, the Reverend Curtis Black, Alexis should be filled with joy; instead, she just wants to sleep the season away. To make matters worse, her future mother-in-law, Geneva, couldn't be more different from her beloved mother. Geneva doesn't feel that Alexis is good enough for Chase and will go to shocking lengths to drive Alexis away. Then there's the drama with Alexis's broke, irresponsible sister. Our protagonist will need a lot of faith to survive this Christmas. VERDICT Faith and drama collide as two families learn to drop their facades and open up their hearts to each other. A sure draw for African American fiction fans. [See Prepub Alert, 5/12/14.]

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014
Five years after her mother passed away, Alexis Fletcher is still plunged into grief every Christmas season. Alexis would much rather take a few sleeping pills and fall into oblivion than decorate a tree. Despite her depression, she does as Rev. Black asks and writes a Christmas prayer pleading for happiness. It's hard to muster much sympathy for Alexis, who practices a rather self-centered version of Christianity. Prayer becomes simply a series of "requests to God," who apparently wants nothing more than for his children to be happy and financially stable. Indeed, Alexis suffers in the lap of luxury. She has a ridiculously high-paying job as a motivational speaker, which allows her to make her own hours, to travel, to take care of those she loves without batting an eye. Saddled with an emotionally abusive slacker of a husband, her sister, Sabrina, is loath to ask for Alexis' help. Alexis certainly has the financial means to pay their bills, but will her Christian faith be strong enough to turn the other cheek, letting bygones be bygones? Alexis' fiance, Chase Dupont III, is a gorgeous and wealthy Prince Charming whom Rev. Black hand-selected for her. Chase's mother, Geneva, hates Alexis, however, and plots to sabotage their engagement. Alexis spots Geneva's tricks, but Chase is blind to them. How long before he will have to choose between his idyllic past and his future happiness? Roby's (The Prodigal Son, 2014, etc.) latest romance in the best-selling Reverend Curtis Black series is unfortunately marred by stilted, clunky phrasing ("She would feel sorry for Alexis for having to live in such a paltry manner"). The tale itself resembles "Cinderella" wandering into A Christmas Carol. Fans will be happy to read Rev. Black's further adventures, but this latest installment won't win him any new ones.

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