Anita Ballard-Jones and Friends
Rehoboth Road
by Anita Ballard-Jones
Buy the book
at:
Amazon
BN.com
Product Details
ISBN: 1585711969
ISBN-13: 9781585711963
Format: Paperback, 400pp
Publisher: Genesis Press, Incorporated
Pub. Date: July 2006
Synopsis
This story takes the reader back to 1950 and allows them to live the next
thirty-six years through the lives of the memorable characters living along
Rehoboth Road. The setting is a small town located south of Macon Georgia. It
was a time of the theft of innocence for fifteen year old Elizabeth Turner, the
daughter of a prominent Baptist minister. Elizabeth was afraid to tell her
parents of her ordeal, but seven months later she gave birth to her son, Johnny.
Rev. Oliver, the guilty, escaped traditional
punishment through the secret that was allowed to brew. The events that follow
resulted in an earthquake of lies, betrayal and doubts of faith. Meet Sarah,
Elizabeth's sister, her mother, Loretha, Rev. Oliver's wife, Thea and their son
Malcolm who was born three days after Johnny, and last, meet the most memorable,
Mrs. Collins (MaDear). From the first chapter, Rehoboth Road will grab the
reader and won't let them go until the end. This book is a keeper for the
reader's private collection of quality fiction, and will make a perfect gift.
Book Review
5/ 5 stars-- Secrets can Destroy
By The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
(RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net)
Children are a precious gift from God and they should be nurtured and protected.
Imagine how you'd feel if you failed to protect your gift from heaven. In
REHOBOTH ROAD, we meet the Turners, the Olivers and MaDear. These unforgettable
characters tell a story of lost innocence, familial love, Christianity and that
old time caring of a community. This story begins in the 1950's on Rehoboth Road
in a rural community just outside Macon, Georgia. And for the next thirty-six
years or so, we follow the growth of two families as they deal individually with
a secret that works like a cancer as it touches each one of them.
Anita Ballard-Jones uses her excellent storytelling abilities to capture the
disposition of the African American culture in rural communities during the 50's
and 60's. She told a very inspirational and heartrending story. I could not put
this one down, as I soaked up the essence of the characters and lived through
the pain inflicted because of one man's sin. There were times I cried because of
that pain and other times I rejoiced because of the healing that occurred.
REHOBOTH ROAD is a stimulating read and I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon, The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
The Dancing Willow Tree
by Anita Ballard-Jones
Buy the book at:
Amazon
BN.com
Product Details
Publisher: Black Deer Books
Pub. Date: October 2007
ISBN-13: 9780972945523
Sales Rank: 157,964
Age Range: Young Adult
212pp
Synopsis
In 1950, young Elizabeth Turner was raped by Reverend Oliver, the assistant
pastor of her father's church. After a hidden pregnancy she gave birth to her
son, Johnny. Reverend Turner, Elizabeth's father refused to respond to her story
of rape and disowned her and her son. He forced Elizabeth and his wife, Loretha
to hide the identity of the baby's father and live the next thirty six years
with lies and secrets.
In 1986, Reverend Oliver was forced to confess to his family as well as the
Turner family, but before he could leave Rehoboth he became seriously ill. The
ripple effect of his confession touches everyone causing them to have an array
of physical and emotional reactions. As Elizabeth continued to move on with her
life, she didn't know the secret her husband, Nat harbored was the cause of his
suffering and enormous pain.
Thea, Reverend Oliver's wife, could not escape the disgrace and shame she was
feeling. She watched painfully as her son, Malcolm tried to forge a relationship
with his brother, Johnny. And she never knew Malcolm was also struggling to come
to terms with his sexuality. Thea's most plaguing dilemma had to do with her
relationship with her husband. Her only consolation was an old weeping willow
tree in her front yard where the graceful branches would dance on the mild
summer breezes. Thea called it her dancing willow tree and she would sit under
it daily to pray and receive guidance from the Lord. She knew if her husband was
to be saved, she had to give him a life threatening ultimatum.
Book Reviews
The Dancing Willow Tree, 5 Star Review
By Patricia J. Blanton (Stone Mountain, Georgia)
This is a terrific book to read, an awesome sequel. Anita makes you feel like
you know the characters in this book, they are alive. There are some surprises
too. This book needs a sequel, in other words, a sequel to a sequel.
Wonderful Book, 5 Star Review
By Lilly Engleman (Waco, Texas)
This is one of my favorite books. I waited so long for it to become available. I
stayed up all night reading it. Ms Jones gives all families in tumult hope. I
was happy the way the book ended but do hope she will write a sequel. I would
like to follow the families into the third generation. This is one of those
special books that one hopes will never end.
Ashes, Ashes, They All Fall Down
by Anita Ballard-Jones
Buy the book at BN.com
Product Details
ISBN: 0972945539
ISBN-13: 9780972945530
Format: Paperback, 264pp
Publisher: Black Deer Books
Pub. Date: June 2009
Synopsis
Josey was pregnant, struggling to overcome her cocaine addiction, and determined
her baby would not be born an addict like her second daughter, Kelly. After
three attempts to clean up, Sabur, Josey's husband continued offering her an
endless supply of cocaine to keep her under his control.
Finally, Josey ran away and with the help of Sabur's mother, Sadie, she entered
a long term rehabilitation facility and vowed never to return to Sabur. The only
problem was Sabur was a powerful and anonymous drug financier and Josey loved
him more than she feared him. Did Josey want what Sadie wanted for her and her
children? Did she just want Sabur to love her and change their way of life, or
did she have a choice?
Dr. Pearson, Josey's psychologist at the Springwood Rehabilitation Center, had
no knowledge of Josey's husband's involvement in her repeated relapses. He had
Josey seek the underlying cause for her substance abuse by having her return to
her early years and relive her past by analyzing her old memories. Josey begins
thinking back to her childhood, to when the horrors began; to a time when she
and her brothers and sister had to fight most of their young lives for survival
while their parents were strung out on heroine and had turned their apartment in
a Brooklyn, New York housing project into a junkie's hangout.
|
Download the Reading Guides by clicking the
book covers.
|
