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Summary: Bertice Berry is a natural storyteller.
Review: The Redemption Song was selected by a member of my book club and when I first saw the book, I thought to myself, isn't Bertice Berry a comedienne? What is she doing writing a book? I quickly lost that notion when I started reading the novel. From the first page I was caught up in the story. I became Fina (a character in the novel). I'm still hoping that Bertice Berry writes a sequel to the Redemption Song because I don't feel that the story has truly ended....it was too captivating to be over!
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Summary: A LOVE STORY WITH HEART
Review: A love story that had to be told. This book left me with a feeling of love and completeness. The story was well written and had your attention from chapter one. As the story unwind, you could feel the pain, the joy and finally the peace. This is a 5 stars book worth reading. This is a book you want all your friends to read.I'm looking forward to reading Ms. Berry new book very soon.
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Summary: A Real Keeper
Review: I picked this book up and the first paragraph "grabbed me". It was not promoted as an African American book and I'm glad because then I would have probably missed a great read. It is set in present day but also tells a story back during the slave days. This is a book for all ages - young & old, male or female, married or single, and for all ethnic backgrounds. It is a quick read but powerful. I will keep my copy and be sure to purchase additional copies as gifts. You can give this to just about anyone. Do yourself a favor - go get this book. I am so glad I found this "gem".
Rating: 
Summary: Nice Love Story
Review: Yes a wonderful love story, and without the negatives of disrespecting our African American women and men. I loved the adult guidance that Ms. Cozy, (the bookstore owner) shared with Ross Buchannon and Josephine Chambers. When they all read together "Children of Grace", they were able to be in touch with their buried feelings and help them to release the pain of the past. I thought it was wonderful how the writer, Bertice Berry, brought two people together in a bookstore oppose to having Ross and Josephine meet for the first time at a night club. This book is definately something for the coffee table, or a stocking stuffer.
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Summary: Nice book for the library card but not for the credit card
Review: I had to check this book out of the library because it was sold out at Books-A-Million, which I thought would be a good sign. I see that I was wrong. This book is a nice quick read (I just finished it at work during my lunch hour)but I wasn't overwhelmed nor did I have tears like most of the other reviewers. The story was nice but I'm sorry, I've read this "you-got-to-know-your-past-to better-your-future" rah rah rah several times before. Several pages I had to reread because the "who got what pages of 'Children of Grace'?" became confusing. I think the story would've been excellent if the book was fleshed out about 100 extra pages for the characters. I guess I was expecting a story along the lines of author J. California Cooper, her book "Family" (which is about a slave family and their generations), and her other works REALLY make you think about our past and how it affects our future. Also it seemed that Ms. Berry was trying to ram every black designer, musician, politician, author, and artist down our throat. It made me think about "shout-outs" from the radio. I don't need to know that Fina found designer Moshood (I 've seen his stuff on TV) to fit her figure. Blsh Blah Blah But this is her first novel, and Ms. Berry will get better as she writes more novels.
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Summary: A Truly Worthy Read
Review: This is a book that you are going to want to read at least twice or maybe three or four times. Small enough to fit in your purse and in your heart.
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Summary: A Wonderful Work of Art
Review: I would persuade everyone to purchase and READ Dr. Berry's book. She has created a heirloom that every African American family should own and pass on to other generation. The characters (Ms. Cozy, Fina, Ross, Iona, and Joe) were so touching and realistic that I could not put the book down. Especially in the introduction when Iona describes the love of her and Joe . Please read this book and pass it on someone else to read, it may change their lives. God Bless, especially Dr. Bertice Berry.
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Summary: Fate in the Y2K
Review: I'm surprised to see that this item has so few reviews. Those of us who have read must share it with our loved ones, friends, acquaitances. This is an unforgettable tale of how two people find each other unexpectedly in all places, a bookstore. Ross and Fina are looking for the same book at the same time and once found they are told by the bookstore owner that it's not for sale and they must read it together at the store. Immediately they become attracted to one another and fall in love. Is that fate or what? This book is compact, concise and comes in the right time when some of us we feel it is difficult to find a suitable mate within the African American community. I would love a sequel to this story. Thank you Ms. Berry for such a wonderful addtition to the genre.
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Summary: THE POWER OF LOVE!
Review: This book is a Must Read. It is a story that will take your breath away. To think of love that our people have lose through the years. We need to show that kind of love that Iona stepfather had for her. And the love Iona and Joe had for each other. Josephine and Ross was destine to have this love. And with the help of Miss Cozy it will only be the beginning of true love. Bertice Berry will take you to the past and back to the future. And when the journey ends you will fine yourself wanting to be apart of this Redemption Song!
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Summary: Breathtaking! It will leave you in tears
Review: This was a beautifully constructed fable/love story/inspirational/historical piece. Miss Berry really put her heart and soul into a story that will resonate with the reader for a long time. Josephine (Fina) and Ross are brought together one morning in a book store. This is just not any bookstore, but none other than Black Images, run by Miss Cosina Brown, Ms. Cozy, if you please. She is a wise soul who posseses a book, a special rare book, that promises to change these three main characters lives. Anthropolist Ross and advertising exec Fina reach for the book at the same time only to be told it isn't for sale. That settled, they sit down with Ms. Cozy and read the story written by a former slave woman. Little do they know how her story interconnects with them all. As the story weaves a heart wrenching story of the pain and hardships of slavery and its legacy from the past to the present, the three characters must examine their own lives and their future. I like the fact that the better part of this story took place in a book store. This small book packs a lot in its pages.
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