First Love: What Would You Give Up To Keep Yours?

By Yolanda Callegari Brooks

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0971627479
• ISBN13: 9780971627475
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: Bow Press
• Length: 373 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 13 years and up

Customer Reviews

Timely and realistically written for young adults!

Yolanda Callegari Brooks' debut novel is timely and realistically written for young adults. Her coming-of-age story about first love intertwined with family values is a delightful read for any age. Matriarch Olivia Shepherd has successfully raised her seven daughters after the tragic death of their father, her first love. Her one worry lies within her youngest daughter, Amani. All of her other daughters chose to have sex outside of marriage. Amani has now reached an age where life-altering decisions can be made in the heat of the moment.Seventeen year-old Amani falls in love for the first time with Marley "Miracle Man" Jamison, a star college basketball player. Both Christians, the young couple struggles with their fiery emotions and vows to practice abstinence. When Marley has a change of heart, he begins to pressure Amani to give in to temptation.Yolanda delivers a novel that tackles a subject prevalent in every young person's life. Parents and teens should grab this book to read. It is definitely an excellent starting point for a parent to approach and for family members to discuss sex and other pressures young adults eventually face.

I Surrender All

Yolanda Callegari Brooks enters the literary scene with a well written Christian novel. First Love is a coming of age novel that delves into staying "pure" until marriage and the pressures placed on a young woman. Amani Sheppard is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter. Seven is a perfect number in the Bible and her mother is praying that her daughter saves herself for marriage unlike her other daughters. Being in this special position in this family places intense pressure on Amani and Marley enters the picture. Marley, the suave, debonair star college basketball player is also a young Christian young man striving to abstain from sex until marriage. Will Amani and Marley make it to marriage? Will knowledge of a family secret cause Amani to falter in her Christian journey?First Love is the beautifully written love story of these young adults along with the story of the Sheppard women. It captures the reader in the beginning and keeps you engrossed until the surprise ending. Yolanda Brooks has done a superb job of blending Christian principles and the Bible into the storyline. I would recommend this book to any teen group to facilitate discussions on dating, teen sex and the consequences. Reviewed by RobilynThe RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

FIRST LOVE: A story for all ages

Yolanda did a great job of capturing and keeping my attention with the storyline. Her well written story can transcend all ages and racial backgrounds. I really enjoyed the way Yolanda displayed the personalities of Amani and Marley. I felt like I knew them. This novel took me back to my younger days because the characters and their issues were so realistic. This is definitly a book for all ages. Drama and humor with a christian undertone makes for great reading! I'm looking forward to Yolanda's next novel.

Modern Love of God

Ms. Callegari truly moved me in her novel. Her character, Amani Shepard was the classic example of a damsel in serious stress, with and urban twist. Amani has to choose between her true love in the natural and her spritual love for God. Although she faces some moments of temptation she knows who she must obey, her heart. Yolanda did an excellent job of keeping up with the times and making the novel welcoming to young and old. I would definitely suggest that any and every young teenage girl, especially ones that are in love, to read this novel.

Romantically refreshing, Spiritually uplifting...

All to common is the "bedroom" romance/relationship books that are the staple for many African-American readers. This book goes beyond the obvious challenge of "First Love",Virginity and conflicting values. As a book reviewer for a Publication, I found myself perking up with each chapter,as I realized how subtly Mrs.Callegari-Brooks was creating a message to a generation about the sanctity of ones body, "without sounding preachy" and the value of being like minded when it comes to choosing friends and lovers. How forgiveness is not an option when you get down to basic facts about decent human values. Far away from the stereotype that single women of any age placed very little value on "walking the walk, as well as talking the talk!" The family was not boring and typical, seven daugher's born to a seventh daughter,"if you know anything, you know the significance of this!" This book probably will be a classic one day...it's not so light that you won't be challenged, yet it is not so heavy that you won't enjoy reading it again. I think the title has thrown a lot of people...Proof Positive that Mrs. Callegari Brooks knows exactly what she is doing! Yes Marley was her first earthly love, but her "First Love"...well you will have to buy the book and find out! A fantastic read that will be interpreted and debated for years to come.