Rating: 
Summary: Forever Yours
Review: Spanning thirty-seven years, Brenda Jackson's Ties That Bind introduces us to the rich and prominent Fuller family from Richmond, Virginia; the Denison family from picturesque Hilton Head Island and Glendale Shores, South Carolina; the Wainwright and Murdoch families of Miami, Florida and the Haywood family from Knoxville, Tennessee. Children from each of these families attend Howard University during the 1960s, establishing life-long friendships and intimate relationships.Randolph Fuller falls in love with Jenna Haywood despite the misgivings and interference of his wealthy paternal grandmother who has paired Randolph with another woman of her choosing. Randolph's maternal grandmother however, accepts the union and spins her mystical power upon the couple using the island of Glendale Shores as her trump card. Grandmother Fuller has also paired Ross, Randolph's brother, with a woman of her choosing but it is Randolph who fights her every step of the way, while Ross accepts his fate to be in loveless relationship with conniving Angela Douglass. Grandmother Fuller and Angela resort to despicable plots to keep Randolph and Jenna apart. Much of Jackson's story is set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and Civil Rights movement adding realistic imagery as we watch the friends and families deal with the tumultuous and riotous times of the 1960s. Jackson has also added numerous characters in the form of friends, Leigh Murdoch, Noah Wainwright, Ellie Stanhope and Johnny Lane that make this family saga complete as we get a major glimpse into their lives. While there are numerous characters and storylines, not once is the focus lost; Randolph and Jenna remain the focal point. The story goes one step further as children are born from these unions and their stories are showcased. Ties That Bind touches the soul, giving the reader a story that showcases quality friendships, loving families, positive African-American men and intricate and sensual lovemaking scenes. This is classic Brenda Jackson and one of her best to date! Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves, APOOO BookClub
Rating:
Summary: Bound Together By Love
Review: The Vietnam War, the Black Panther movement and the marches for Civil Rights were causes for turbulent times in the 1960's. These events provide the setting for the novel Ties That Bind by Brenda Jackson. The story begins on the campus of Howard University in the mid-1960's. Two young people meet and fall deeply in love. Randolph Fuller came from a family of prominent lawyers on the paternal side and from the Gullah people on the maternal side. Jenna Haywood is too dark and did not have any prestige behind her name. These differences between the two did not matter , although to Julia Fuller, Randolph's grandmother, it was a disgrace. Jenna and Randolph were in love and planned to be together for the rest of their lives. However, an obsessed Angela, who was actually the grandmother's handpicked bride for Randolph.s brother, had other plans, which included making Randolph her man. In a mixture of lies and deceit, she got her man, but paid a heavy price. Fast forward twelve years, Angela still is obsessively in love with Randolph, but their ten year marriage has ended. Randolph found out that Jenna, whom he never stopped loving was also free. When Jenna seeks Randolph's assistance to help free an imprisoned friend, it gives them the opportunity to rekindle their romance. However, Angela will not easily give up her role as Randolph's wife. In her vengeful state, she uses Randolph's son, Trey, as a pawn and with more lies and deceit, she turns him against his father. Advance twenty years later, all the carefully constructed lies and deception start to crumble. Every deceptive thing Angela has done comes to light. Randolph and Jenna are still married, and the estranged relationship they had with Trey is getting better. A new generation of Fullers and their friends are now finding true love like their parents. Ms Jackson again has given her readers a passionate and romantic novel filled with sensuous lovemaking and family love that transcends beyond the main couple, and reaches into the families and friends. The legacy of the Fuller family will bring readers joy for many more anticipated sequels. Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
Rating:
Summary: This Is A Book I'd Read Twice!
Review: This book is sssoooo good! Although it starts out a little slow it makes up for it later... The characters are genuine and real... Some parts in this book had me near tears... I just don't like how her daughter had the same first name as her maiden name... I would suggest this book to any and all book readers!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: This book was definitely a page turner. I highly recommend it as a book that once you start reading you get completely captivated into the characters, along with the romance that develops between two of the main characters.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Put It Down If I Tried!!!!!!
Review: This book was excellent reading! I purchased it this Saturday and finished reading it Sunday evening. It had me in a trance and couldn't put it down until I finished it. It was so sensual at times that it literally made me cry after I finished reading it, found myself going back to read certain chapters again. At times I could tell that I was holding my breath just to find out what would happen next. I could talk all day and still be at a loss for words.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty ok read...
Review: This book was ok. I bought it a couple of weeks ago and took the time to read it this week. I will say that this book kept me interested til the very end. I do not think anything that happened was far-fetched. I'm not one who enjoys books that are overly-sexual, so that was a drawback for me. Especially since a lot of the sex was loose and very irresponsible. That being said, I think the book (storywise) was interesting and I enjoyed the round up of the characters at the end.
My only gripe is with the character Johnny and how his story wraps up nicely at the end. It just tickles me because it reminded me that if you write a novel, you can have it end anyway you please, LOL. Read the book and you'll find out.
Rating:
Summary: very interesting
Review: THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD, I COULD HARDLY PUT IT DOWN. ITS AMAZING HOW MRS. JACKSON COVERS SO MUCH TIME AND SPACE IN THIS BOOK. AND THERE IS STILL NO BOREING MOMENTS. RANDOLPH AND JEANNE REMINDED ME THAT ROMANCE IS NOT DEAD NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU WAIT! I RECOMMEND THIS TO ANY LADY THE LOVES TO READ , AND WANTS TO READ IT QUICK.
Rating:
Summary: Glad I Picked it Up
Review: This book was wonderful. Brenda Jackson did a great job describing the mood of the nation and the consciousness of college students at that time. The love story that spanned for so many years was very touching and extremely well written. I was just shopping in Wal-Mart and walked by the book area and am very happy that "The Ties That Bind" caught my eye. Great job Ms. Jackson.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!!!
Review: This is a page turner. You have to make yourself put this book down. The characters come alive. Brenda really did a fantastic job. I am an avid book reader and I love to read books that make you want more and this is one of them. But, I have never read a badly written book by Brenda Jackson. Everything she writes is very, very good!!! You won't go wrong when you purchase a Brenda Jackson novel.
Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: This was a great book. It was so good, I read it in two days. I probably could have read it in one if I didn't get such a late start. The characters come alive and a person can get lost in this book. This is the first book I have read a book by Brenda Jackson and it will definitely not be the last.
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