Shades of Gray

Thomas delivers a great story. This book is a page turner. The plot is fresh although it becomes predictable after the foretold death of the main characters husband. What makes the book so beautiful is the depth of revelation into the main character Sela as she deals with the situation at hand. The moral and spiritual lessons are priceless close to exceptional but not quite still run out and buy this one it's a keeper. Shades of Gray could receive nothing less than a Silver rating.

I always shed a tear when I read Ms. Thomas' novels, and this one is no exception. Her books make you think about things we take for granted. Everything about this novel was excellent. Ms. Thomas keep up the exceptional work.

Title: Shades of Gray Sela Barnes and her husband Rodney enjoyed a wonderful marriage, good relationships with their six children and a beautiful home. The only thorns in their side were Rodney's parents who refused to accept Sela as part of their family because Sela is African American and Rodney is White. The book opens with Sela and Rodney renewing their vows for their twentieth wedding anniversary at their new big, beautiful home surrounded by family and friends. This would be their last milestone together as Rodney is soon diagnosed and succumbs to a condition called congestive cardiomyopathy, a disease that is hereditary. Knowing that her life will forever be changed due to the death of her husband did not stop Sela from trying to make peace with her in-laws because she promised Rodney she would. Sela was constantly having a battle of words, wits and wills with her in-laws until her oldest daughter and son sat down with Sela and their grandparents to voice their opinion about how they treated each other. Ultimately it was Sela's decision to return to the God of her youth and depend on His strength so that she was able to make it each day after the passing of her husband and to finally make amends and become a true family. I enjoyed this beautifully written novel by Jacquelin Thomas, but I still had questions when I was finished such as what was it really like to be an African American woman married to a White man in the South? The book takes you through the emotional struggles of dealing with grief from Sela's point of view, what her children did to cope and how she helped them, but it was not until the end of the book that I found out that it is not about race. It was about those gray areas in our lives that transcend the color line and is covered in a multitude of love. Reviewed by Sharel E. Gordon-Love APOOO BookClub

In Shades of Gray Ms. Thomas' portrayal of the challenges of the Barnes family brings the reader face to face with the magnitude of the power of unresolved issues. Throughout the pages you will come to know the love and trust Rodney Barnes has for and in God. The same reverence is seen in his children who range from five to twenty years in age. It is his wife Sela who worships from afar. After twenty years of marriage and six beautiful children the gap between Sela and her in-laws has only widened. When tragedy strikes it is the truth of Psalm 127:1 (Except the Lord build the house), that is put to the test. Beset by pressures seemingly unbearable Sela initially reacts out of her pain. Words of love and truth spoken by her children and those from the journal of her husband are tools used to chip away at the cell walls holding her hostage to the pains of her past and present. The story is not one unfamiliar to us whether it is a personal encounter or one experienced by those we know. It is the manner in which Shades of Gray is written that causes one to examine where they are at in personal relationships, (with God and others). I commend Ms. Thomas for gifting the reading world with a novel that speaks to the truth of what a godly family should be and our responsibility to stand firm and to fight to retain the legacy for future generations. Linda F. Beed, D.R.Ed On Assignment Reviews

Jacquelin Thomas is a phenominal author. She has definitely crossed over to show that Love is not black or white, but shades of gray. She has written a riveting story of how we all have to make changes and that GOD is in control of our lives whether we think so or not. Sometimes we wait too long to see the error of our ways and through children, Adults can also learn. Proverbs 22:6 states to "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Sela Barnes has and is raising some wonderful children and she should be very proud, from the youngest to the oldest, they know who GOD is and they are strong and more help then she actually can imagine. Her and Rodney have been married 20 years and you would think that by now her in-laws would be used to her, but see whenever you allow things to go on and you don't consult GOD years fly by and lost time is just that,you never know who you will need in your life. Rodney is the love of Sela's life and the apple of his mommas eye, but I think Rodney could and should have done more to decrease the gap between the family. Sela and Ethel have to deal with difficult situations and Sela realizes that once she has released the past and allow to GOD to work, he will use who and what he wants to bridge the gap and find a common ground for all involved. This story has some great moments, some sad moments and some angry moments, but it all has to come together, because you don't get to choose who is in your family and who you love. You also see where a lose can also bring about a gain. Rodney is a sweetheart though, planning so far ahead and he just prepared so much for his family, his love for Sela and the children was genuine. Ms Thomas can do a sequel with the children and also it is going to be time for Sela to move on - she is still young. Also Jay and Ayanna will have a story to tell I am sure and it is great that they are grounded and in the LORD! Excellent writing...