Rating: 
Summary: A Fool's Paradise--A reader's joy
Review: I read a Fool's Paradise in a weekend. I could not put the book down! I love the characters from beginning to end and in joy and pain. I fought to hold back the tears as I traveled with each character during their time of struggle.I reccomend this to anyone who loves to read.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Debut Novel
Review: I really like this book. Nancy did a fantastic job on each of the characters. I especially liked the peacemaker, Mr. Miller. All of the male characters were protectors as well as trying to guide the female characters in positive directions. All of their lives crossed in one way or the other. I couldn't predict how any of the characters would turn out, especially Hyacinth. A lot of forgiveness was going on. This book is good drama.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Debut Novel
Review: I really like this book. Nancy did a fantastic job on each of the characters. I especially liked the peacemaker, Mr. Miller. All of the male characters were protectors as well as trying to guide the female characters in positive directions. All of their lives crossed in one way or the other. I couldn't predict how any of the characters would turn out, especially Hyacinth. A lot of forgiveness was going on. This book is good drama.
Rating: 
Summary: A refreshing West Indian excursion!
Review: In her debut effort, Nancy Flowers Wilson successfully takes the reader on a vacation to Jamaica and introduces the reader to both the flair and the folly surrounding the lives of the Saunders and Miller families. Through the lives of Anne-Marie, a young woman destined for success in the medical field; Colleen, Anne-Marie's seemingly soft-spoken and docile best friend; and Donovan, Anne-Marie's boyfriend, Wilson takes on weighty and significant issues such as strained mother-daughter relationships, choosing between career and family, hypocrisy, and honesty and security in male-female relationships. Placing her characters in the most challenging of circumstances, Wilson allows them to make mistakes and grow (or not) over the course of the novel. Some of the dialogue is outright hilarious ("Everyone is a Rastaman deep down inside. You feel me[?] [I]t is up to the individual to recognize his true identity") and at times probing. The surprises, plot twists, and turns in A Fool's Paradise are endless, always showing up when you think you've figured out what's going to happen next. The novel's ending will leave you with your mouth hung open and, likely, a lump in your throat. You'll close the book understanding how one island can be at once a safe haven and a fool's paradise, depending on the choices we make in life.
Rating:
Summary: Life's Choices
Review: Let's travel to Jamaica, West Indies to the backdrop of this wonderful story by Nancy Flowers Wilson. A Fool's Paradise is a coming of age story line about Ann-Marie Saunders who is studying to become a doctor. Being a top A student, Ann-Marie is picked to study abroad in the United States at her choice of prestigious universities. Unfortunately, when she learns she is pregnant, things begin to take a turn for the worst. Donovan, her boyfriend, is excited about becoming a father. However, he has issues with her decision to pursue her medical studies abroad to the point that he will stop at nothing to make sure she doesn't go. Ann-Marie is her father's "star," and although he is disappointed in her pregnancy, he still sees her reaching her dream of becoming a doctor. Ann-Marie and her mother have an estranged relationship. Her mother is closer to her sister Nadine and they both seemingly avoid being around Ann-Marie. This hurts Ann-Marie very much and the only person she feels comfortable confiding in is her best friend, Colleen, who has moved out of her mother's home after putting up with years and years of verbal abuse. Colleen continues to toil with why her mother hates and treats her so badly. Ms. Margaret, Colleen's mother, has serious issues from the past that have caused her to mistreat her daughter because she feels it is necessary to ensure Colleen doesn't end up like she did. She escapes her issues by degrading Colleen every chance she gets to the point that Colleen finally stands up to her mother. The overall story line revolves around the maturity, growth, and development of people who are in love, starting to fall in love, and have the determination to take charge of their lives. It is also about the turmoil of one person's life and how they pass their issues on to their offspring all in the name of protecting them. The mixture of love, happiness, support, bitterness, sadness, selfishness, reality and determination makes this book a learning tool for anyone who must make difficult decisions to live their life and reach their goals. I commend Ms. Wilson for a well written novel which also depicts a very nice cultural flavor and environment of Jamaica, West Indies. You will truly enjoy this book. I give it a rating of 4. Reviewed by Kalaani
Rating:
Summary: Desires and Realities....
Review: Nancy Flowers Wilson gives a rise to a tale of innocence, and personal desires intertwined with first love in a setting of where almost anything is inevitable. This saga takes the reader on a visual journey in a paradise setting containing unexpected twists and turns throughout the nontraditional interactions amongst family and friends alike. The main characters will steal your heart, as they are so humanly real they almost jump right off the pages. Get ready to take your emotions on a roller-coaster ride, as you will be culturally introdced to the land of Jamaica West Indies, their cuisine, language and convictions of that of their beliefs and pride. Ms. Flowers Wilson tells a fluid story from beginning to end leaving you wanting more. It's a definite read, one you'll enjoy for a lifetime!
Rating:
Summary: You'll be a fool not to read this
Review: Nancy Flowers Wilson's debut novel, A Fool's Paradise, is one of the best books I've read in a long time. She did an excellent job of making Jamaica come alive. I can still taste those Jamaican dishes. Good job, Ms. Wilson. I look forward to your next book.
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Summary: Bravo! Bravo! - Finally, a good coming of age story
Review: The main character is intelligent and real. She faces life's obstacles head on and makes decisions with her heart. It's a story that you can relate to and the characters you know. Eventhough it starts a little slow, it picks up and delivers bang after bang! If you can remember your college years -- the world is at your feet, and at the same time crashing on your head. This book is a must read. You will be moved!
Rating:
Summary: Paradise Found!
Review: This book was excellent. I haven't read in a while and after reading this novel I feel like I've been missing out! A Fool's Paradise was a great read about a young woman discovering herself and her man for that matter. Just when you think you know someone... anyway the relationship that Anne-Marie had with her boyfriend Donovan was hot to say the least! Anne-Marie's mother was a trip, but a few of us I'm sure can relate as well as her sister Nadine. She had issues, but the kicker was Ms. Margaret and her daughter Colleen. Some of that stuff came out of left field. The entire book kept me up and I was able to complete it in one sitting. I highly recommend this book to one and all, men and women. We need more men like Mr. Miller around.
Rating:
Summary: More Like a 4.5 rating!
Review: This flavorful and spicy debut novel, despite a somewhat sluggish beginning, provides a vivid and fascinating coming-of-age story of two young Jamaican women. Anne-Marie Saunders is in college studying to become a doctor. As she prepares for the last year of her undergraduate studies she discovers that she's pregnant...but she still believes that she will be able to travel abroad to complete her studies. Upon hearing she's pregnant, her long-term boyfriend, Donovan, is ecstatic and proposes marriage but he wants Ann-Marie to attend medical school in Jamaica. Will Ann-Marie follow her heart or pursue her dream? Colleen, Anne-Marie's best friend, has finally gotten up the nerve to leave home and strike out on her own after years of verbal/mental abuse and lack of acceptance by her mom. As Colleen seeks her freedom and independence she will meet and fall in love with an older man who has a few surprising skeletons in his closet. As Colleen is coming to terms regarding her lover, her mother contacts her and wants to be a part of her life...but will Colleen allow her mom to re-enter her life? A Fool's Paradise by Nancy Flowers Wilson was a soothing and mesmerizing read. The story starts off slow but quickly builds and readers want to know how the characters resolve the issues in their life. It was a story that made me smile and cry; a story that spoke to my mind, spirit and soul; a story that will stay with me long after I've finished the book. I really liked Ms. Flowers vivid and descriptive writing; I felt like I was in Jamaica right there living with these memorable characters. I liked the realism and tension of the various situations and didn't feel that she gave us drama just for the sake of it. I liked that almost everyone learned something from their actions and behavior-both young and old alike. Even though I didn't agree with Donovan's actions, I felt the love and fear that compounded his decision and I understood why he did what he did. On the other hand, I wish the author would have delve a little more regarding Anne-Marie and her mother's relationship...what was the underlying reason as to why Anne-Marie's mother didn't like her? I liked that their were positive male role models, fathers who were right there taking care of their families. The reoccurring themes in the book were real...the search for parents love and acceptance, mother-daughter relationships, sibling rivalry, male/female relationships and father-son relationships. And even though I saw the ending coming, I was still in shock when I got there...it was so poignant and touching that I felt my heart skip a beat! I really enjoyed the cultural flair and flavor as well as the writing style within Fool's Paradise and I look forward to reading more novels from Nancy Wilson Flowers.
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