C. Kelly Robinson

God Only Knows
Imani Jones
“Don’t judge a book by its cover” I have heard that expression many times before and I thought I understood it fully until I began to look through the African American literature section in Borders. I was overwhelmed by the number selections there were and as I searched through numerous books, none caught my interest. I finally made a decision on a book entitled God Only Knows. I believed this book would be predictable, but decided to take a chance. As I read the back of the book I thought my prediction was accurate. However, as I began book I became engrossed. The author Xavier Knight had me on the edge of my seat. The book was not predictable at all and I was unable to put it down.
This book, written in third person, tells the story of friends Julia Turner and Cassie Duncan. When a dark secret from their past begins to resurface, they scramble to salvage their lives and the lives of their loved ones. The main characters Julia and Cassie are two hardworking, God-fearing, best friends who happen to work themselves into a tough situation. In Dayton, Ohio detective Peter Whitlock began to stalk Cassie in order to uncover the truth about how Cassie and her friends harmed his brother Eddie Walker twenty years ago. When Eddie tried to sexually harass Cassie, Julia and her two friends Toya Raymond and Terry Lewis, rescued Cassie but seriously injured Eddie in the process. Eddie was then reduced to a vegetative state for the rest of his life. This book shares a story of friendship, secrets, and racial discrimination. As Julia and Cassie embark on a journey to clear their names they reunite with their old friends, Terry and Toya. Along the way they run in to other old classmates such as, Jake Campbell and Lyle Sharp, who were not the most considerate children. In fact their behaviors mirrored those of Julia’s love interest, Dr. Maxwell Simon.
Maxwell was a kind, giving character, and he quickly became my favorite. He not only ran a non-profit medical clinic in the small city of Dayton, but he also gave a job to Eddie Whitlock’s mother. Eddie was in Maxwell’s class along with Julia and Cassie. The reason Maxwell was so likeable was because he had such a pure heart. Despite his childhood bigotry he tried his hardest not to judge others. As a child Julia Turner was the sole black women that showed interest in Maxwell, due to his obvious preference to white women. When Maxwell turned her down Julia hardened her heart towards him. Two decades later, Maxwell developed a romantic interest in Julia proving the he was no longer bound by his childhood narrow-mindedness.
Although I enjoyed almost the entire book, there were still some elements I disliked. Some parts did not appear to be necessary to the overall telling of the story. For example, whenever the author began to talk about Julia’s niece, the story became dull and hard to read. Her niece, Amber, did not add anything to the story. Amber was just an extra character with no significant purpose. Some of the characters behaviors were also less than desirable. However, thankfully there were more parts of the book I liked rather than disliked. I loved the mystery of the book; it kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought the story was over another exciting twist came out about and kept me interested. Another element of the book I enjoyed was the characters. They were interesting and like the story, their behaviors were unexpected and exciting. I thought the story had reached the climax when Cassie admitted to injuring Eddie but I was mistaken. Soon after Cassie’s story was revealed Jake Campbell admitted to his involvement in the situation with Eddie. Julia’s behaviors were also erratic at times. At one point she became enraged with Maxwell because he had failed to mention he had a daughter.
The book is a Christian novel with a powerful, religious theme. The message that the author conveyed was God will protect you through all things. Julia and Cassie were terrified of Detective Peter Whitlock and what owning up to the secrets of their past could do for their future. However, they trusted God and diligently prayed throughout the whole experience. This not only got them out of the situation with no harm done but also gave them peace of mind. Although their minds were not fully at rest, it gave them enough peace to get through the situation. The women also learned the importance of forgiveness. She saw how Eddie’s, mother forgave the girls and that gave Julia the strength to forgive Maxwell. Overall, the book not only told a great story but showed the reader a wonderful lesson.
Xavier Knight is an amazing author. One of the first things most people comment on about an author is his or her ability to keep the reader interested. Knight did a wonderful job of not only grabbing the reader’s but keeping it until the very last word. I am eager to read more of his books. When I began this book I believed I had the plot figured out and I was not very excited to read it. Yet, as I fell deeper into the story it became clear to me that there was much more to the book than I originally thought. After reading it I realized that I might have passed a number of great books, simply because they did not catch my eye. Although I ca not read every book I pick up, I now have a more open mind when it comes to looking for things to read. Now I can honestly say I understand the phrase “you can’t judge a book by its cover.”… (lisätietoja)

This book starts out as a flashback and centers around Eddie and his brother Peter. The book gains twenty years in the next chapter and focuses on Cassie and her current situation with her separated husband, Marcus. He had an affair with a much younger co-worker and Cassie and her eldest son are having a hard time with that. The couple is in the middle of reconciliation when the story begins. The couple’s eldest son, M.J. is at a crossroads in his life with God and trying to stay away from the wrong crowds.
Another main character that is introduced is Julia Turner, who is a best friend of Cassie. She is on the school board of the Christian Light School where they attended twenty years previously. The story unfolds around an event from the past that is long forgotten that is brought up again. Each character has their own memory of what happened that day, but the time the pieces of the puzzle are put together, the initial memory cannot be fully complete. A detective Whitlock starts poking around Cassie and has information on the events that took place years before involving his brother, Eddie. He blackmails Cassie threatening to throw her son in jail if she doesn’t give a full confession to incapacitating his brother in an attack at the school.
Cassie and Julia meet with the other girls who were involved in the attack on Eddie and discuss their options. Most of the girls have spent their lives since this happened involved with the church and have asked for forgiveness. Nobody wants to confess what happened until it gets more heated with the Detective.
Cassie’s son M.J. starts hanging out with Dante, who is a Cassie’s nephew and a known drug dealer. During this time, Marcus has an altercation with the Detective and is thrown in jail. M.J. and Dante confront the Detective and get into a gun battle with him. Both Dante and the Detective wind up in the hospital, and M.J. goes into hiding. Cassie has no choice but to go to the hospital and agree to confess against what happened to Eddie in exchange for no involvement with her son in the gunfight.
Cassie had typed up a resignation letter and was going to resign from the board and face her fate. Jake, one of the boys from the school steps forward and recounts what really happened. As Cassie was being attacked from Eddie and the other girls appeared and beat him up in self-defense, Jake was hiding in the bushes and saw it happen. He felt guilty by leaving and knowing what Eddie had done, or could have done to Cassie. He gets into a fight with Eddie, and we learn that he was the cause of Eddie’s accident.
In the end, the girls ask for forgiveness from Eddie’s mother, Edna and they go to Eddies’ room to pray for him. I think this book would be great for group discussion and I really did enjoy this book. There are a lot of good bible quotes in the book as well.… (lisätietoja)

Simply stated, The Strong, Silent Type by C. Kelly Robinson is one of the best books this reviewer has read so far in 2005. Although he has four novels under his publishing belt, Robinson’s name is not as widely known as say, Eric Jerome Dickey or E. Lynn Harris. However, if Robinson keeps writing compelling tales like this, he will no longer be a silent bestseller, but a prominent and popular author.

While Dickey is the king of drama and Harris brings the DL heat like no other, Robinson ranks supreme in storytelling. He goes back to the basics of a well-written story and combines flawed characters and an engaging plot, with a few twists to boot. More than anything, readers will appreciate the unique and refreshing storyline.

The main character, Deacon Davis, is an ex-professional football star who works as an executive director of the American Dream Party, a political organization started by his late father. But when Deacon stutters horribly during an important nationally televised interview, he is forced to resign. Frustrated that his tongue had failed him and cost him his job, he’s determined to do something about his stuttering and get back to fulfilling the duty of continuing his father’s work.

He seeks professional help at the Speech Recovery Clinic, where he meets Maria Oliver, an attractive speech therapist. Before either of them knows it, they are breaking the clinic’s fraternizing rule and if anyone finds out, she too, will be out of a job. Adding to her stress is another dilemma. While battling with drugs in the past, she gave her baby to her brother, Thomas and his wife to raise as their own. Now, when Maria is clean and sober with a successful career, she can’t deny the maternal feelings she has. She wants her son back. Despite Thomas’s litigation threats, she wants her son to know the truth, that she is his mother, not his aunt.

Maria’s not the only person wanting truth revealed. Deacon’s brother, Miles plans to write a tell-all book, detailing his theory that his father’s mysterious death was not an accident, but an assassination. However, there are a few holes in Miles’ theory, and Deacon knows the one person who can confirm or shatter Miles’ suspicions.

The Strong, Silent Type is a great read. C. Kelly Robinson has a masterful way with descriptions that truly bring characters to life. The scenes are vivid and the dialogue, authentic. Robinson should not only be commended for penning an intriguing tale, but he should be applauded for enlightening a few readers, like this reviewer, about the impact stuttering has on people who have the communication disorder. If you’re looking for a book that has it all—romance, suspense, drama and excellent writing—pick up The Strong Silent Type. You won’t be disappointed.… (lisätietoja)