Original Love

I loved this book, this one (and you know its true) was so true to life to me. It almost mirrors mine in a eerie way. I was a little spellbound by the story its self. I absolutely loved this!!

Author J. J. Murray has written a book that would ordinarily have me stumped and wondering where he was going with his story. But his transitions, flashbacks and memories have a wonderful way of meshing together to create a story about first love. At one point, I thought I would have to brush up on my history. Author Murray uses classics; American History and mythology to create his story and take the reader on a complicated but enlightening journey. Peter Underhill fell in love with Ebony Mills when they were junior high school age. The fact that Peter is white and Ebony is African American had nothing to do with what they felt for each other. The innocence of youth along with their curiosity and desire to explore their sexuality made their love story that much more beautiful. Peter and Ebony grew up together through high school and separated while in college. Due to this separation, Peter ended up unhappily married to someone else while Ebony did what most African American women say they will never do: waited for that man to come back! After years of separation, a bitter divorce, and attempts to move on, Peter and Ebony's paths crossed again and they began to share their lives anew, revisiting places they shared, talking about people they knew and coming to terms with many truths about themselves. I would definitely recommend "Original Love" for anyone who enjoys romantic stories that are not predictable, but will cause you to want to find true love and address issues from your past. Reviewed by Sharel E. Gordon-Love APOOO BookClub

I really enjoyed this book--it was so refreshing because it was different than the myriad of well-used and overdone storylines. I especially found the "book within a book" plot device to be wonderfully fresh and original. The characters are so richly developed. Ebony's spunkiness and assertiveness made her a very likeable and intriguing character. Peter's "sexual fumblings" as a growing teen with raging hormones, especially when he got close to Ebony, endeared him to me forever (those who read the book know what I mean). Mr. Murray's insight into the publishing world was informative with an interesting angle. The publisher wants Peter to continue to write romances with a black woman's voice under a pseudonym to satisfy a growing black female reader base. Peter is frustrated by this-he is conflicted because he wants to make a successful living as a writer, but he wants to write his books under his own name. He really wants to write an autobiographical story of his growing up years and his enduring love for Ebony, his original love. Mr. Murray is such a great talent with a unique voice--that of a white man writing about white male characters and their love of and romance with black women. The love depicted in his books rings true and brightly shines through in all of his books. I do hope he continues to write these incredible, sensitive books in his uniquely gratifying style. In the future, I hope Mr. Murray continues to write and explore the romantic relationships between black women and white men-stories that seem to end up transcending race and going straight to the heart. Oh, and Mr. Murray, just a tad more spice in the bedroom (or wherever!) would be a most pleasurable ingredient!

It was great book I absolutely loved it! Can't wait until his next is in print!!!

It's a fact; Original Love is a great read. You've got comedy in all the right places, characters you can love and hate, and a romance that could make a grown man cry. What's not to love? The characters are real; you have to feel something for them. It's subtle; the interracial elements don't smack you across the face every time you turn the page. It's smart; there's more to it than you might think. It's funny; we're talking laugh out loud funny. It's the cheese and that's all there is to it.