Rating: 
Summary: A "girlfriend-relationship" read!
Review: This latest "girlfriend-relationship" novel by Angel Hunter, the founder of The Essence of Self Center, focuses on four women who must find self-pride, love, and empowerment to deal with the controversial problems that arise in their lives. The entire cast of players in this novel, though different in temperament and personalities, are linked together by their partnership and work in the same law office. Crystal Gem is an attorney and rape victim. Her involvement with counseling a young rape victim causes painful memories of her own rape to resurface, and leaves her with the realization that until she finds a way to face her rapist, her problems with intimacy and love relationships will continue. Susan Gold is an attorney and high school friend to Crystal. When the love of her life proposes marriage on the condition that she gets help with her cocaine addition, she feels desperate, and letting go of the cocaine is not as easy as she had thought. Elsie Carlson, the third partner in this law firm, is aloof and distant with everyone simply because she does not want them to know that she is in love with a woman. It isn't until she decides to "come out of the closet" about her relationship that she is faced with what this alternative lifestyle really means and brings to her life. Jewell, the paralegal for the firm is a "street-smart" young woman who is successfully balancing work, motherhood, and school at the same time. Even though her son's father has always been the love of her life, she is apprehensive and uncertain about her feelings for Evan, a white man she has been dating and secretly engaged to. The black and white cover of this book is very attractive and definitely the hook that will compel readers to buy it. The simple language and uncomplicated plot makes this book an easy read. I will say that I was expecting the resolutions of each woman's sitaution by the end of the novel to be more compelling with regards to the seriousness of their problems. As I think back to Susan's addiction to cocaine, I am surprised that her painful road to recovery was not explored more. I also felt that Elsie's turmoil with being bisexual was not given enough attention. Still, I commend Ms. Hunter for telling her story and wish her success with her next writing project.
Rating:
Summary: A tale of four friends with love, loyalty, and compassion
Review: YOU ARE NOT ALONE by Angel Hunter brings a tale of four friends with love, loyalty, and compassion for each other. Crystal - A successful attorney who was a rape survivor trying to deal with her past was very supportive of the girl who was a raped by son of her rapist. Crystal had a love affair with Lange and had mixed feelings for her boyfriend Roger. There should have been more details about how her relationship with Lange turned out. Susan - One of the partners at the law firm was battling a drug addiction and was confused about marrying Timothy, because of drug addiction. Susan hit the rock bottom when she was caught driving drunk with drugs in her purse. The experience forced her to seek help. Susan's character left the reader wondering if she ever got over her drug addiction. Ms. Hunter should have elaborated more on Susan recovery from her drug problem. Elise - Third partner of the law firm who kept her sexuality a secret. Elise was torn between two lovers; she couldn't make her mind whether to move in with her lover Summer who has a daughter or to continued seeing Janay. Elise character needed to develop more. Jewel - A paralegal at the firm with the other three ladies who was struggling to raise her son and get an education at the same time. Jewel got involved in an interracial relationship and had an affair with her son's father who was pro-black. The interracial relationship between Jewel and Evan was irrelevant to the rest of her life story. Overall the book was a well-told and passionate story. Angel Hunter has the potential to be a good writer.
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