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Summary: Amazing story
Review: Passing by Samaria is an inspirational story dealing with racism, love, forgiveness, spirtuality and death.Life in Mississippi for Arlene is great. She never wanted to leave but when she revils a horrible discovery, her parents send her to live with her aunt in Chicago. Arlene is full of anger due to the discovery and her move. While in Chicago Arlene learns to deal with several issues. I loved this novel because it is a Christian romance novel and it showed different kind of people dealing with prejudice. I look forward to more by this talented author. Keep the faith and be blessed!
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Summary: Chrisitan based novel
Review: Passing by Samaria is the story of Alena, who is sent to Chicago by her parents when she want's to do something about her friend who is brutally killed by white men in her home town of Mississippi. Her parents send her to Chicago for her own safety, but she blames them for making her leaving home, and for trying to get justice about her friend's death. In Chicago Alena, battles with her religion, and almost falls under the charms of Pearl, a guy who's up to know good. A Good Chrisitan novel that you don't want to miss
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Summary: A glorious, life-changing first novel!
Review: Sharon's insights are deep, rich, and honest. With uncanny accuracy, she climbs into the minds and hearts of her characters: young and old, male and female, black and white, rich and poor. This book isn't just about race, it's about grace in all it's amazing fullness. What a grand new voice Sharon brings to inspirational fiction!
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Summary: Overly simplistic and superficial
Review: The author tries to address too many issues. Rather than exploring a single issue in depth, she tries to tackle death, racism, spirituality and religion, lynching, male-female relationships, black-white relationships and on and on. The result is that she does none of these themes justice.
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Summary: NEW AUTHOR--GREAT STORYTELLER!
Review: The first sentences and chapters enable the reader to ease into the world of Elena, as it was both before and after the lynching of her good friend, J.C. Love the cover! It captures Elena and the beginning of her journey, which proves to be a painful one of anger and bitterness as fear tests her family and challenges Elena's childhood admiration and love. Enlightened by entering into the black experience through these honest character portrayals, also appreciated the multiple viewpoints, getting into inner motivations and witnessing the grace God worked in, through, and in spite of them.
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Summary: NEW AUTHOR--GREAT STORYTELLER!
Review: The first sentences and chapters enable the reader to ease into the world of Elena, as it was both before and after the lynching of her good friend, J.C. Love the cover! It captures Elena and the beginning of her journey, which proves to be a painful one of anger and bitterness as fear tests her family and challenges Elena's childhood admiration and love. Enlightened by entering into the black experience through these honest character portrayals, also appreciated the multiple viewpoints, getting into inner motivations and witnessing the grace God worked in, through, and in spite of them.
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Summary: Don't Pass By Samaria
Review: The novel "Passing By Samaria" is a refreshing and delightful change from the normal romance novel. This book is based on historical events following World War 1. It focuses on a young African American woman coming of age in a world that at times hates her. She is greatly loved by her parents whose belief in God and prayers perserve them all through very hard times. I loved this book because it was a Christain romance and did not any sexual content at all. Instead it focused on what relationships are supposed to be based on - true love and concern for others. This is a book I will read over and over again.
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Summary: God don't let me pass by Samaria unaware
Review: This book addressed a facet of the history of our great nation that is so heinous that I had trouble believing anyone could write about it and not have hate, resentment, and other vengeful thoughts bleed thru. It was a time when "man's inhumanity to man" was tolerated and even condoned in our country and our lives. It was a time of racial hatred and wearing white sheets over heads for disguise. It was a time of unholy acts by ungodly people. I wept for the pain portrayed. There was joy here too and I thank God for His presence in this writing. Sharon Ewell Foster, in her first book, covered this period of history in full honesty and with such grace and aplomb I was astonished. She used the storyline to show how bad things happen to good people and how if no one protests it could happen to any one of us too. She showed how love and forgiveness and restoration could take place within the all encompassing embrace of a Holy God who wants no person to fall short of His glory and redemption. She showed how in the basest of human tragedies God can bring His love to bear on lives and situations and people can come out whole, renewed and changed in mind and spirit. I loved it and have recommended it to everyone I know. I am also requesting a sequel as the characters were so compelling to me that I want to know where they went and what they did after the conclusion of this story. Alena and James, Jonathan and Dinah, Aunt Patrice and Deac and even Pearl, not to mention Alena's family and the other people back home in Mississippi. Keep writing Sharon, as fast as you can. :-) Jenifer
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Summary: I've already bought two copies and plan to buy more. . .
Review: This book touched me deeply. If I had to explain racism to someone, I would use this book to do it. The book not only presents the problem eloquently, but it also presents the solution. It's not an easy book to read (from the heart's perspective) but I highly recommend it. I plan to give it as gifts. I've already bought two copies and plan to buy more.
Rating: 
Summary: Mixed Emotions
Review: This is a good story, but I never could get a feeling of period. It could have taken place during 1919 or 1940 or the present. For some reason, I just didn't feel I was there with the characters. The writing is good, and it's a nice story, but a little too heavy on agenda, dialect, and preaching. She's actually confirmed everything I believe--but I don't want my convictions confirmed in a novel. Especially since this is a road that's been traveled many times before, in books, movies, etc. Still, she's a good writer and is obviously passionate about what she believes. If this is her first book, and I think it is, she has real potential for future novels, and I'd probably try another, because I like the style of her writing.
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