North Carolina native, Alicia Bradley, has her heart set on Chicago. Her first great love, Derek Hendricks lives there, and he is heading to her parent's home to bring her back to Chi-town to be his bride. She feels like Cinderella, but there are a few minor concerns:(One) his new career is borderline criminal, (Two) his family is more dysfunctional then a bad episode of “Dr. Phil” and (Three) his rage outbursts threatens Alicia’s life on one too many occasions. Alicia believes in marriage and in her idea of what her husband could become, but will it be too little too late when Derek throws a fit that almost destroys the family?

Derek Hendricks loves his new bride, Alicia Bradley, because she is innocent, smart, and the best woman he’s ever known. But he didn’t grow up in an environment that fostered good relationships and normal behavior, so he falls short, misbehaves and becomes abusive when he gets his way. Eventually his tantrums push Alicia away. He’s desperate to keep his marriage, but he’s not sure how to do this.

street fiction lovers, romance, marriage

Peele-Miller's girl-next-door style

book formatting, too many things going on, too fast pace

Sheila Peele-Miller

Peele-Miller writes with an around-the-way-girl charm. This novel is reminiscent of TJ Butler’s Just My Luck. But she falls short with structure. She crams too many insignificant events into a 280-page book. Characterization is choppy in parts. Alicia spends more time adjusting to Derek’s behavior instead of realizing her own shortcomings. Moreover, Peele-Miller had some colorful characters that warrant further development. Perhaps she will reprise them in later sequel.

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Created Apr 10, 2005 at 1:21am • Submit your own review...