After The Storm

By Cassandra Darden Bell

After The Storm by Cassandra Darden Bell released on May 31, 2005 is available now for purchase.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 158314482X
• ISBN13: 9781583144824
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Kimani Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.5" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Good Book

Wifey goes to hubby's car dealership and catches in a tricky situation right on the heels of a hurricane, and runs. Thanks to her girlfriends, they have her back, put her up in a hotel, keep an eye on the kids(them and her mom)take her on a getaway to Alaska and then gets herself together and opens a shoe store on her own; Real nice ending; Good story.

After The Storm

After the Storm is a novel based on a bond just shy of that between a mother and child; it is the bond of true friendship. The title parallels Jessi's inner feelings as well as her outward surroundings. The story begins with the onset of hurricane Lily. The metaphorical storm begins when Jessi walks in on her husband and his lover. This wife and mother of two sons finds that her life, as she knows it, has just become the eye of her own personal storm. Nauseated by her discovery, Jessi picks up her sons and heads to her mother's, only to discover that, as usual, her mother thinks she is doing the wrong thing. What is a woman to do when she feels like her family is not on her side? She turns to her best sister-friends. Karen and Regina are Jessi's support system. They are more than friends, they are the sisters that she never had. Karen, the loving mother and wife, has the ideal life. She has the nice house, the money and the fine black man. The only thing is - she's white. Which brings us to Regina. Regina is the in your face sister from around the way. Although she loves her girls to death, she sill has a problem with Karen taking what she considered to be one of the few good black men. Throughout this story, you will learn a lot about these three women. The author has taken these characters and developed them into people that you might meet on the street. All three characters have individual storylines which separately, stand on their own, but collectively, reinforce each other and their friendship. This novel demonstrates the depths of courage that motherhood commands. It also shows that true friendship will always trump adversity. I find that Ms. Darden Bell effectively shows her readers the importance of a strong and dedicated support system. Clichéd though it may be, there IS sunlight after the storm. Reviewed By: Eleanor Shields, Black Butterfly Review

I Get By With A Little Help from My Friends

After the Storm by Cassandra Darden Bell is truly a story about finding oneself and coming into your own. On the surface, thirty-three year old Jessi Andrews has captured the American Dream: the husband, twin boys, the house, a satisfying career and special girlfriends. One day, just as a storm is brewing in Florida, Jessi arrives at her husband's used car lot and discovers his infidelity. This act catapults her to take stock in her life and begin a search of self-discovery. With help of her best friends Karen and Regina, coupled with her love of shoes, Jessi begins her journey by taking care of her marriage, going on an Alaskan vacation and becoming an entrepreneur. In addition to her issues, her mother is a thorn in her side and she soon discovers that she must contend with her problems on her own and stop seeking her mother's approval. This discovery brings with it information from her mother that is heaven sent. One problem I have is the lack of storyline as it pertains to the children and their emotions from their parents divorce; it is non-existent. However, the author paints a vivid portrait of Florida and its inhabitants during the stormy season. She utilizes witty dialogue between the characters that make for some laugh out loud moments and some shocking discoveries. Finally, in the form of secondary storylines, she highlights issues that two friends must contend with which demonstrate her ability to intermingle tales but never overshadow the main story being told. After the Storm is an inspiring and uplifting chronicle of life during and after the storm. Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves APOOO BookClub

Sometimes the end can become the beginning

Jessi has been married to Derrick for 10 years and is the mother of twin boys. For most of her marriage she has had doubts about Derricks fidelity but never had solid proof or rather she refused to look for solid proof. One morning she hs a feeeling that something bad is going to happen. When she hears that Hurrrican Lily is going to hit her town she believes that it is the cause for her uneasy. She was wrong. She goes to her husbans business and catches him with his new employee. Her world is changed forever. Making matters worse is her mother. A woman who has never in Jessi's 33 years been supportive of anything in her life and is quick to assume that Jessi is once again at fault. Luckly for Jessi shs has the love and loyality of two dear friends; Karen and Regina. They never judge her and have her back. A unique all girl vacation and some serious soul searching and the support of her friends allows Jessi to move on with her life and win back her much battered self-esteem. I liked the story but I didn't love it. The biggest problem that I had with the story was that it was too short. Ms. Bell wrote very short chapers and tended to skip over blocks of time; sometimes by several months. I would have liked to read more about Jessi's coping with her separation and spend more time with her boys. The affect of the separation on the boys was never mentioned. I think that it should have been. Ohe day the twins are living in their own home with two parents and the next thing they know their parents are not together and don't even speak each other. What earned this story 4 stars was that Jessi's journey to emotional and financial suscess didn't revolve a man. She didn't need to have a new man in her life to rediscover her self worth.