Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful debut!
Review: Counting Raindrops offers readers a different view of relationships and fear of commitment. What happens when the woman in the relationship is hesitant about getting married because most marriages end in divorce while those that do not marry seem to have longevity? Once you get married, your spouse becomes laxed and complacent and doesn't have to do those things they once did to attract you. So, the perfect solution would be to live together forever, right? That way, the relationship is always fresh and exciting because each knows the other can walk out the door at the drop of a dime. It's easier than divorce and this is Vanella's thought. Great job to this new author for being creative enough to present a relationship novel that offers something other than the same ol' same ol'. I'm impressed on how it's still a boy meets girl story, but told with a twist that has never been done before that it's a totally new and untold story. This was a great story.
Rating:
Summary: A great new book with many twists and turns.
Review: Counting Raindrops through a Stained Glass Window is a great new book by a gifted new author. The book takes you on a different journey into relationships that is fresh and new. The author makes you feel as if you are with the characters as they go through their trials and tribulations. It grabs you from the beginning till the end. A great book.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: Counting Raindrops through a Stained Glass Window was a new great story. I ended up being quite surprised. Some of the characters that I sided with in the beginning were my enemies by the end. Mom and the best friend...something else. She truly spun vibrant characters that made you want to reach out and slap somebody. When I'm talking to the characters, that means you have a winner on your hands sweetie. Keep up the good work!
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: Counting Raindrops through a Stained Glass Window was a new great story. I ended up being quite surprised. Some of the characters that I sided with in the beginning were my enemies by the end. Mom and the best friend...something else. She truly spun vibrant characters that made you want to reach out and slap somebody. When I'm talking to the characters, that means you have a winner on your hands sweetie. Keep up the good work!
Rating: 
Summary: Classic story telling at it's best...
Review: Counting Raindrops was a suspenseful and delightful read peppered with realism, personality and a whole lotta "down home" flavor. I found it easy to slip into Vanella's shoes and experience life through her senses, and her plight drew me into the story making it impossible to put the book down. I like the fact that this was not a typical "all the sistahs got it together while all the brothas are low down dirty dawgs" story, which seems to be the trend in most African American literature today. I think it's extremely important to have positive black males in our fiction since it has been proven there are some in the world *smile*. I also loved the fact that Vanella was the one running from marriage while both Alton and Tucker seemed to hold more value on it. A wonderful twist on the "love and marriage" stereotypes. Cherlyn sets up the book's settings and surrounding extremely well, putting the reader right there with the character and giving just the right amount of "life" into the scenery to make for a very well rounded story. This dynamic effort for a first time author contains all the elements for classic story telling, and I would recommend Counting Raindrops to any lover of literature!
Rating:
Summary: Classic story telling at it's best...
Review: Counting Raindrops was a suspenseful and delightful read peppered with realism, personality and a whole lotta "down home" flavor. I found it easy to slip into Vanella's shoes and experience life through her senses, and her plight drew me into the story making it impossible to put the book down. I like the fact that this was not a typical "all the sistahs got it together while all the brothas are low down dirty dawgs" story, which seems to be the trend in most African American literature today. I think it's extremely important to have positive black males in our fiction since it has been proven there are some in the world *smile*. I also loved the fact that Vanella was the one running from marriage while both Alton and Tucker seemed to hold more value on it. A wonderful twist on the "love and marriage" stereotypes. Cherlyn sets up the book's settings and surrounding extremely well, putting the reader right there with the character and giving just the right amount of "life" into the scenery to make for a very well rounded story. This dynamic effort for a first time author contains all the elements for classic story telling, and I would recommend Counting Raindrops to any lover of literature!
Rating:
Summary: You have earned the Right to Write
Review: Greetings and Happy Holidays to everyone. Let me start by saying congratulations Cheryln! The book will be a success. As I stated in my title, you have earned the right to write - pretty catchy huh :-) This book is going to take off like a rocket to the top of the bestseller list. As a person who reads for pleasure, I like to jump into the story and become one of the characters. You made this possible by naming some of the landmarks in our illustrious city (St. Louis). I am sure I can speak for many people when I say that I have a very busy schedule, but I could not put the book down. I found myself literally yelling things such as "Vanella, don't you let Alton walk out that door!" I really enjoyed the twist on Vanella's and Alton's relationship. It was great to finally see a man being rejected instead of visa versa. So many times women get thier hearts broken and are left to wallow in their pity. Oh, am I getting too personal? Let me continue with the review. It would be hard for a person reading this book not to be drawn into it. See, this is the degree of excellence that keeps a person wanting more. Again, I enjoyed reading your first novel and I look foward to reading many more. I would recommend this novel to anyone who simply enjoys reading a good book.
Rating:
Summary: I loved it!!!
Review: I could not put this book down! The characters were developed so well that I thought I knew them. Most of us have a younger sibling that doesn't realize just how bad they sound and act, parents that drive us nuts, an obnoxious friend, co-workers who try to make us look bad to make themselves look better, and a love that we will never forget. While reading Counting Raindrops, I found myself laughing out loud often and also wanting to cry at times because Cherlyn Michaels is so descriptive and creative. I was born and raised in Cleveland so it was nice to read about things going on at my old stumping grounds. I felt like I was back home again. I highly recommend this book to people who are looking for a different story about the African-American experience, one with twists, turns, and lots of humor. I can't wait to read Cherlyn's next book!
Rating:
Summary: Ha!
Review: I have to admit that I held off on writing a review because I was concerned about the advance review copy that I won. It had errors that I see were corrected in the finished book that I just got today. Other than that, this book was a great change of pace. She took the same type of relationship story and put a different twist on it. Although I've grown tired of the girlfriends scenes in these books, I really enjoyed the one in this one because of what the girls talked about. Each had a different and interesting perspective on marriage. I enjoyed her writing style too. It's definitely different. I highly recommend this book and hopes this author continues to write more in the future.
Rating:
Summary: A good story
Review: I picked up Ms. Michaels novel at her signing. I'd never heard of her before, but now I am definitely a fan. I read this book in a week, which is GOOD for me because I am so busy. I was captivated from the first chapter when dad fell out of the window (I was like, no he didn't!). I am definitely passing this along and look forward to your next novel. You are definitely a writer.
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