Rating: 
Summary: The Ties That Bind
Review: Electa Rome Parks' debut novel deals with the relationships of three well-developed characters - Mia, Brice and Christian. It is a realistic story of marriage and friendship gone awry. After a brief courtship, Mia and Brice marry and Mia's life is dramatically altered.THE TIES THAT BIND shows how each individual's backgrounds influenced how they interacted with each other. The novel, also, examines how childhood relationships with parents and friends can shape our relationships as adults. The scenes are very descriptive. Mrs. Parks seemed to have put each character under a microscope so one can actually feel the intenseness of Brice's anger, Mia's fear and Christian's indifference about the whole matter. That is, until he
(Christian) finds he has fallen in love with his best friend's wife. Our group, the Obsidian Book Club, found the book interesting and we recommend it highly. We hope that Mrs. Parks will continue to develop these characters. We are curious about what will happen to them. Also, we wonder what would happen if Brice met someone who has the same aspirations he has. - OBSIDIAN BOOK CLUB MEMBERS
Rating:
Summary: Emotional OverDrive!
Review: Have you ever read a book where the entire time your emotions were on overdrive and you just wanted to jump into the story and beat some sense into the characters? Well, if you enjoy fast-paced, drama-filled, highly charged reads then look no further than The Ties That Bind by Electa Rome Parks. This is a book where you definitely want to slap the heck out of the Husband & Wife Team. After only one month of knowing each other, Brice and Mia decide to marry each other. Mia, 22 years old, is a hopeless romantic at heart, who's seeking her Black Knight in shining armor. Brice is anything but...physically he's 8 years older than Mia...but emotionally he's too possessive, controlling, jealous and abusive. Nothing will stop him from "tapping that behind" when he feels like it. Christian, Brice's friend, is on the outside looking in and he doesn't like what he sees. Will his love for Mia help her to get out of a bad situation or will Christian's life be threatened because of Brice's insecurities? The Ties that Bind is a compelling read about love, abuse, deceit and betrayal. As I read the story I felt a lot of anger, rage, pain, frustration and outrage...all while hoping only for the best where Mia was concerned. I wanted Mia to wake up and I wanted to Brice to get what was due to him...yes I wanted revenge in a big way! Electa Rome Parks has written an engrossing...albeit disturbing story...which sometimes read more like real life rather than fiction. My only disappointment with the story was that my emotions weren't 3-dimensional; I wish I would have experienced more joy, happiness and smiles and laughs as I read The Ties That Bind. Overall, I enjoyed the author's writing style and I look forward to future novels...hopefully tho' the next one will be a little more upbeat than this one. (smile)
Rating: 
Summary: Good to the last drop
Review: I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It was so good I finished reading it in two days. I couldn't put it down because it kept me wondering what was going to happen next.
Rating:
Summary: Really violent
Review: I knew that this book would be about spousal abuse, but whoa! This book to it to a level I wasn't expecting. That being said, I did enjoy the book somewhat. The story, although unbelievable in some areas, had me interested until I finished. I probably won't buy the sequel though, I'll just rent it from the library.
Rating:
Summary: I know these people
Review: I met this author at Peabody's on my way out from checking out Denzel's new flick. There was some kind of author's book signing going on. I got this book, and Super Rap Star (which I am going to read next), and a book called Lust of the Flesh, which I read first and loved it!!! I also got a few children's books for my neices and nephews. I love children's books with us in them because there is identify [smile]. I almost put my review under this same title by a different author. Ties that Bind is not an unfamiliar story. I know so many Brice's, Christian's and Mia's until I'm tired of reading about them. But the author has put together a short story that could be read in a matter of a few hours. It has unanswered questions but I understand that those questions are answered in the sequel. Overall, I rate this a 3.5 ***-1/2.
Rating:
Summary: I know these people
Review: I met this author at Peabody's on my way out from checking out Denzel's new flick. There was some kind of author's book signing going on. I got this book, and Super Rap Star (which I am going to read next), and a book called Lust of the Flesh, which I read first and loved it!!! I also got a few children's books for my neices and nephews. I love children's books with us in them because there is identify [smile]. Ties that Bind is not an unfamiliar story. I know so many Brice's, Christian's and Mia's until I'm tired of reading about them. But the author has put together a short story that could be read in a matter of a few hours. It has unanswered questions but I understand that those questions are answered in the sequel. Overall, I rate this a 3.5 ***-1/2.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Poorly Delivered........
Review: I was intrigued and bought this book after reading the review recommendations and seeing it hyped in a "Black Expressions" book club mailing...but after reading the story, I'm really sorry I did. I was very interested in the premise and I wanted to enjoy this debut book--I really did, that's why I stuck with it to the end--but the story's delivery was so poor, it was painful. Though I can appreciate Electa Rome Parks' effort and clear passion to be a writer, I would be remiss if I didn't say that despite finding a major publisher, she should really consider attending writing classes if she wants to sustain a successful career (making more than just mediocre sales) as an author that appeals to a wide audience of readers.
With that said, THE TIES THAT BIND is a love triangle told from the individual perspectives of the three principle characters--Mia, Brice, & Christian--but none of the three ever develops a separate, distinct voice. The story is told by cardboard cutouts of the roles they are assigned to play...Mia: the delicate beauty and poor, innocent, misguided and battered wife. Brice: the handsome husband in uniform with a possessive/abusive streak. Christian: the beleaguered best friend balancing his conflicting feelings for the other two. Surely one can see where this is headed, right? It's that predictable.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree"......"There's a thin line between love and hate"......"You have to lie in the bed you make"......."The truth will set you free"......these are just a few of the trite clichés that litter the story. The writing style lacks finesse and flow, and could even be attributed to a high school senior that's read a few books over the years and then thinks he/she can write a "juicy" story from a very limited perspective and scope. Most of the dialogue and narrative came across as choppy and unnatural. The same descriptions are used throughout, no unique identities. Everybody could "throw down" when it came time to get together for a "cook out". All the good looking men had it "going on" or were "finnnnnnne", or had big sex organs and could "put it on her". You get the picture.
Furthermore, the book mostly TELLS US what happens--we're never SHOWN. There were times that I so wished the author had shown us the pivotal scene in lieu of all the rushed summarization that evoked nothing but a turn to the next page. This is a clear example of an author's lack of writing ability. From what I know of writing, the oldest rule is the rule to "show, not tell". To show, it requires realistic dialogue and writing savvy that this author obviously lacks...so her approach is to summarize most of the story's happenings and drama, rather than fleshing out or painting the scenes so they unfold for full effective as the reader reads.
After reading the sample pages of the sequel LOOSE ENDS here at Amazon, I can see that it's more of the same, so no hope for improvement with that one. I read the author interview in the back of THE TIES THAT BIND and note that the author says she is sensitive to criticism of her work, so I feel really bad about posting this review; but I would want the truth if I were trying to write, so I felt compelled to expound on my honest opinion. I do wish Electa Rome Parks the best in her writing endeavors, and I hope she will nurture her craft so she will one day write stories that will appeal to a wider, more cultivated audience. Then she would certainly garnish the kind of success she craves. As it is, the audience is certain to remain quite limited.
Rating:
Summary: A Page Turner
Review: If you enjoy a good book with interesting characters, a fast read, then you want to get this book. The story development was good and made me eager to read the sequel - Loose Ends. If you want a good book for a lazy weekend, I recommend that you pick this one up & Loose Ends. I read both within 4 days.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent debut novel
Review: Mia, a 22 year old college student and hopeless romantic, is looking for love - an all encompassing love. She wants a soul mate to complete her. To Mia, fairy tales do come true. And she thought she found all of that in Brice Matthews. Despite being 8 years her senior, Brice has it going on. He's sexy, handsome, intelligent, and the best lover she's ever had. He's everything she wants in a man and more. But what happens when her fairy tale meets reality?
Brice, a 30 year old Marine, has found the love of his life in Mia. Even though she is 8 years his junior, he feels she is still mold-able. Brice is old fashioned and intends to wear the pants in the family. But when Mia's stubbornness surfaces, will Brice let his temper get the best of him?
And then there is Christian, a consummate player and Brice's best friend who he loves like a brother. He is entrusted with the task of "babysitting" Mia as Brice is often out of town. As the three spend more and more time together, Christian witnesses his best friend's emotional and physical abuse of his wife. Along with being a babysitter, he takes on the role of friend and confidant to Mia. But what happens when he begins to feel that Mia deserves better? Is he that man?
The Ties That Bind is told from the point of view of all three characters allowing readers to experience their joys and pains as this triangle of love, hurt, and friendships plays out. I made the mistake of reading the sequel Loose Ends prior to this, but I highly recommend reading both - in correct order of course. Great job Mrs. Parks!
Rating:
Summary: Ties That Bind Are Soon Loosed In The Sequel
Review: The Ties That Bind, by Electa Rome Parks, is a wonderful book. This novel takes you on a very provocative journey into the lives of three special friends Brice, Christian, and Mia. They are young career orientated and full of spice!
Brice and Christian are inseparable, real ladies men including intimate-passionate appeal and taste! Closer than blood brothers, they grow up together after the death of Christian's mother. They shared no secrets between them or do they?
Ms. Mia! Beautiful yet flirtatious captures Brice's attention and heart. Not wanting to risk losing her, he proposes to her, wedding bells ring one month later! Mia soon finds out that the man she'd married likes to rules with an iron tongue and fist! She becomes a prisoner in her own home and marriage. With no family or friends around for support, she is left all alone or is she really? After a horrible accident, Mia flees leaving behind everything including her controlling husband, promising herself never to look back, or does she? The Ties That Bind, is touching, stimulating, and down right good! However it's not OVER - the best is yet to come in the sequel "Loose Ends"!
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