All in the Family

by Maxine Thompson, Melanie Schuster, Janice Sims

In this anthology featuring works by Sims, Maxine Thompson, and Melanie Schuster, women learn who they are and what theyre made of as they try to live with the past, look to the future, and find the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0977093662
• ISBN13: 9780977093663
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Dreams Publishing Co.
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

AWESOME STORIES!

All In the Family is a great set of stories that speaks to the drama families experience when each sibling tells "their" story of being reared by the same parents in the same home. Reminded me of my siblings...

A family reunion

When the four Johnson sisters take their disparaging perceptions of growing up in South Carolina, home for the family reunion, Mason County will not be the same. 'Summer Of Salvation' by Maxine Thompson - Immediately after high school, Debra left South Carolina. She is now a casting director in Hollywood, has been married for four years and is ready to produce her motion picture. Her mom wants her home for the family reunion, and her husband wants to start a family. Always independent, Debra is determined to advance her career before she starts a family. A week before the reunion Debra's husband exposes a secret; and then leaves her. A frightened Debra tucks her tail between her legs and goes home. Will her visit home be the balm she needs to help her appreciate family? 'Where My Heart Is' by Melanie Schuster - Sharon has always been driven to be the best, and her reasons for this drive is rooted in South Carolina. Now a successful television producer she is on top of her game except with her personal life. The stringent set of rules, that governs how she fraternizes in the studio, has caused her to miss the signals a co-worker has been sending for two years. After learning about Sharon's inferiority complex, her co-worker agrees to pose as her man at the family reunion. Will Sharon get caught up in the ruse and finally realize that family and a good man can make life wonderful? 'Momma's Baby, Daddy's Maybe', by Janice Sims - Candace, the oldest of the sisters, lives in Charleston, SC. Angela, the youngest, left for Miami to pursue a modeling career and find herself. Although Candace is happily married, she has lived with nasty paternity rumors since she was a child. Angela, who left her man behind, is worried that her life in Miami will cause problems for the relationship she wants to rekindle in South Carolina. The two sisters have mixed feelings as they prepare for the reunion. Candace has finally decided to put the paternity rumors to rest; one way or another. And Angela must 'man-up', confess her sins, and face the music. ALL IN THE FAMILY candidly shares how much a mother will do to show her love. After issuing her daughters an ultimatum to come home, Sara learns why they were so reluctant; and the knowledge is priceless. This is one of the most entertaining stories I've read in a while it really brings home family, perceptions and truths. Reviewed by aNN of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

We Are Family, I Got All My Sisters With Me

Candace, Debra, Sharon and Angela are the Johnson sisters of Mason Corners, South Carolina in the anthology, All In the Family. Janice Sims, Melanie Schuster and Maxine Thompson give readers insight into the Johnson girls' lives; their hopes, dreams, trials and tribulations. All of the women have moved away from small town rural Mason Corners, living their lives and doing their thing. Suddenly they each receive a letter from their mother, Sara, demanding they all come to the Johnson family reunion in August or else! They are all offended; after all, are not they grown? But Sara knows what she is doing. Over the years she has seen her girls grow apart not only from each other but they have also distanced themselves somewhat from her. She suspects some family gossip and secrets might be behind the drifting apart. In "Summer of Salvation" by Maxine Thompson, the second oldest daughter, casting director and filmmaker Debra Johnson-Soto is living in Los Angeles with her Mexican-American husband who is owner of a landscape business. When Debra gets the terse letter from her mother about the reunion, her first reaction, after the initial anger, is to just ignore it. Of course she has no intentions of going back to backwoods Mason Corners. Not when she has a roster of Hollywood actors and wannabees clamoring for her attention and certainly not while she is on the fast track to writing her own ticket in Tinsel Town. But Juan, her husband of four years, has other plans. He has never met Debra's family and he is beginning to think she does not want him to. Juan wants to go to the family reunion but before a decision is made a life-altering matter comes up which threatens to destroy all that Debra has so carefully built. Thompson's story is one of multiculturism and show biz in Los Angeles. In Melanie Schuster's "Where My Heart Is", Sharon, the third oldest of the Johnson sisters, wonders why her mother's letter to her is so brusque. After all, she is the one who goes back to Mason Corners on a regular basis and keeps in contact with her parents--despite how she has perceived she was treated as a child. Sharon, a television producer in New York, has memories of being an outcast in her family. Simon Freeman, a media PR and a co-worker and friend of Sharon's, thinks she should go to the reunion and take him along as her boyfriend. Simon knows Sharon desires her family's acceptance and besides he has ulterior motives. Schuster infuses her usual sensuality and witty dialogue into a humorous story of reconciliation. In "Mommas' Baby, Daddy's Maybe", Janice Sims gives the readers the stories of both the oldest sister and an interior decorator, Candice Johnson-Bates, a married mother of three and Angela, the baby girl. Candace lives about 300 miles away from Mason Corners in Charleston, yet she has managed to visit home as little as possible. The demand that she attend the family reunion only reminds her of the painful gossip of her paternal aunties. How can s

Family Reunion

ALL IN THE FAMILY is a quick read about a family with four daughters, Candace, Sharon, Debra and Angela, who have a no nonsense mother, Sara. For those of us with children, we know each child has their own personality, but these young women were almost on the brink of dysfunction at the mention of their hometown or their mother's name. In business, each woman is considered a powerhouse. Highly respected, they know what they want and they go after it with a no nonsense attitude. Situations that occurred in their childhood is still affecting them in their adult years. Debra has been married four years to a terrific man who loves her deeply, yet she's been keeping him from her family. Sharon, who they call Jackie (Jackass), as a child had large teeth (she looked like a mule). She goes home twice a year, yet, no one notices that she is there. Candace overheard things as a child, so now she tolerates her mom but is unable to face her about the truth and instead just decides to stay away. Angela left home to follow a dream which turned out to be a nightmare. She does not want to be the only sister to remain on the farm without trying to follow her dreams. The young women get a reality check when they all receive a letter from their mother insisting that they come home for the family reunion in August. All four are uncertain if they should go and face the demons of their past or just leave well enough alone. But, they each will have the support of a strong man beside them to help them go through this trial. ALL IN THE FAMILY takes a look at each young woman through their own eyes to see how they view themselves through the eyes of their family. As you read you find a ton of surprises. It seems that the women were suffering from situations that were manifested by their aunt from their father's side of the family. Thanks to faith and determination of their strong mother, Sara, she gets her daughters on the right path. ALL IN THE FAMILY is a very good read. Although written by three different authors, you never fall off. Reviewed by: Carmen

Debe

I love how this body of work made me feel. the stories blended so well together..........did the authors sit in the same room? I loved it I was reminded of my own mama Ms. Percy Bell was so much like Sara I had to laugh and cry ......she just knew how to push buttons and when to find out problems as well make them go away.........the sisters are great loved them...........the Biddes are the best....reminded me of my own family.........I loved this book and rate it 5 stars this is a good strong read and will leave you feeling good. Maxine T. .....thank you, Melanie S. thank you, Janice S. thank you Ladies thank you for a great and fun book............Debe