Boaz Brown

May 31, 2004
Set in Dallas, Stimpson's debut novel effectively uses flashbacks to dramatize the conflicts faced by her deeply spiritual narrator, LaShondra Smith. A successful school vice-principal about to turn 31, LaShondra yearns for Mr. Right. Naturally, this special man has to be not only honorable, compassionate and rich but also Christian and black, like Boaz in the Bible. On career day, LaShondra meets Stelson Brown, the handsome white partner of the Brown-Cooper Engineering firm, and is immediately attracted to him. As her feelings for this Christian Prince Charming grow, LaShondra has to deal with a school administration that questions her ability to cope with diversity issues and, more importantly, a father who disapproves of her dating outside her race. In the sobering denouement, her father reveals a family secret about an incident in Ellerson, Tex., in 1958 that forever crushed his dreams and trust in the white man. Aimed most obviously at African-American women of faith, this thought-provoking tale of anger, prejudice and romance offers important lessons for all. 3-city author tour.

This novel marks Michelle Stimpson's entry into the ranks of African- American Christian chick lit. Her heroine, LaShondra Smith, is looking for the man of her dreams. She expects him to be witty, intelligent , and Christian. His being white is a bit unexpected! The main characters in this slightly askew romance are sassy, sophisticated, intelligent, and deeply in love. Caroline Clay brings characters vividly to life no matter their race, age, or gender. She never linguistically stereotypes the characters no matter how turgid their positions as they deal with issues of race, sex, and religion in twenty-first century America. P.R. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine