Author: Stacey Hawkins Adams
Speak to My Heart is Stacey Hawkin Adams’ debut novel. I am always elated anytime I read a book that draws me emotionally into the character’s life. From the beginning of the novel, readers are drawn into Serena Jasper’s story. Serena and her Mama are tight! They have been that way ever since Serena’s dad died when she was young. Unfortunately, the bond between this mother and daughter abruptly gets broken when Serena’s Mama shares a devastating secret.
Right after sharing news of her acceptance into graduate school, Serena’s Mama tells her the man she has known as father all these years, was not her biological father. Serena’s conception came as the result of an affair her mother had with Deacon Gates. In shock, shame and anger, Serena withdraws from her mother and disassociates herself from her home church St. Mark’s Baptist Church. Not only does a wedge come between her and mother, but Serena slowly lets school and then her career come between her and God.
With a promotion and a hot account opportunity for her company, Serena soars as a advertising executive. Along the way, Serena meets Micah, a seminary student whose friendship and recent career change leave Serena searching for the missing pieces in her own life. The chaos that is derived from her roommate’s tumultuous relationship and one of the girls she used to mentor at St. Marks, causes Serena to look at the choices she has made. As she discovers how selfish she has been, she begins to seek God’s voice again and also tries to reconcile with her mother before it’s too late.
You will need some tissues with this book. I won’t tell you why, but being one who easily cries anyway, I had tears flowing down my face several times. Forgiveness and reconciliation are shown so passionately through the characters of Serena and her mother. The book touches on many topics such as the pitfalls of working in the corporate world, domestic violence, adultery, terminal illness, teenage pregnancy, backsliding, etc. Even with all these topics, one major theme runs throughout, people, careers and situations may disappoint us, but God is always there for us. Nothing takes the place of emptiness, but God himself.
Reviewed by Tyora Moody
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