Here and Now - Softcover

Roby, Kimberla L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0758200641 ISBN 13: 9780758200648

Publisher: Dafina, 2001

Synopsis

Brilliant and vibrant, Marcella Jones had the whole world in her hands, until she gave her heart to the wrong man. Tyrone was handsome and charismatic, but he left her destitute, raising two small children alone—and yearning for the kind of life her dead-end job will never provide. Marcella's elder sister, Racquel, lives in a fine home, has a fulfilling career and the love of Kevin, her handsome, successful, supportive husband. Yet her desperate longing for a child is driving her into a deep depression, and away from Kevin.
 
As different as night and day, Marcella and Racquel are so hungry for what the other has, they are tearing their lives apart. Only with each other's help can they heal the hurt and celebrate the joy of everything that's been given to them.

At turns heartbreaking and hilarious, Here And Now marks the return of a wise and fiercely passionate new voice in African-American fiction.

“Kimberla Roby is a true writer, a storyteller at the top of her game. With unforgettable characters like Marcella and Rachel, Here And Now reminds readers about their own lives.” —Eric Jerome Dickey, bestselling author of Liar's Game

About this title

Review

Fate deals sisters Marcella and Raquel completely different lives in Kimberla Lawson Roby's Here and Now. Determined to give her children a better life, Marcella struggles to find financial stability without the aid of her unreliable ex-husband, Tyrone. When she stretches herself too thin between her job and full-time college classes, Marcella refuses to question her decision despite the negative effects it's having on her children. The promise of her new romance with a medical student named Darryl, and the support of her family encourage her to continue. But when Tyrone threatens to withhold his meager support, Marcella feels her careful balance starting to topple--sending her into a cycle of anger and aggression with Tyrone that threatens her own health as well as her relationship with Darryl.

Sister Raquel has the unconditional love and support of her husband, Kevin, yet she aches to have a child of her own. After years of fruitless efforts, Kevin is willing to consider fertility treatment or adoption, but Raquel refuses to give up on natural methods, and swears they need just one more chance. Her blind lack of realism starts to wear on Kevin, and their relationship begins to fray. When Raquel finally agrees to treatment, their marriage is subsumed by the effort, and they lose sight of each other. A pregnancy brings renewed hope, but have they already lost each other? Here and Now offers a poignant story of two women struggling to define their future and learning to value the present. Mundane details and an unexpected dream sequence may frustrate readers, but the appeal of Roby's strong characters and realistic issues outweigh any faults the book may have, making this an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien

About the Author

Kimberla Lawson Roby is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of the Reverend Curtis Black series as well as several other novels and novellas. She lives with her husband in Illinois. You can learn more about Kimberla by visiting KimRoby.com, Twitter.com/KimberlaLRoby, or Facebook.com/kimberlalawsonroby.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dafina
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0758200641
• ISBN 13: 9780758200648
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 384