Sweet Lavender

By Terry A. O'Neal

Rae Lynne Jonston was only five years old when her beloved father walked out of her life, leaving her mother to raise his love child. As she got older, the only place Rae Lynne could find peace was in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0967944678
• ISBN13: 9780967944678
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Motion Pub
• Length: 143 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

"Sweet Lavender" a novel by Terry A. O'Neal

There are some books that start right off and grab you heart and squeeze it for all its worth, until tears roll down your cheeks. Hopefully, if you are a manly man you will not do this in public. Author Terry A. O'Neil truly sets up an emotional meltdown in her coming of age tale of a young black girl in her short novel "Sweet Lavender". O'Neal has a way of building up the level of hurting by establishing the relationship through the narrative and the eyes of the young daughter Rae, who at the beginning of this story is only five years old. We learn quickly how much she loves her father. That is the set-up and the fall is an emotional one for anyone who has suffered a break-up of a marriage or their family--it is always hurtful and painful for the children involved. The author captures that feeling without laboring the issue. O'Neal takes us through the break-up over the infidelities of the father with another woman. That other woman has had his baby but dies and this is where it gets rather complicated and dysfunctional. Rae's father brings the child home to raise and to confess his affair. That is too much for Rae's mother and eventually her dad cannot handle the scorn emotionally anymore and packs up and leaves. It takes a while for her mother to realize that he is not coming back. Meanwhile, she is stuck with his baby. That is the foundation and the pretext from which the author constructs an inspirational and emotional tale. There are lots of gripping narrative and just enough use of good dialog that the story is an easy journey for the reader but certainly one beset with emotional issues. It is hard not to feel something while reading O'Neal's book. She has a talent for turning the phrasing into emotional prose and captures the spirit of her main character. This is a family friendly book and I would think that mature juveniles though elderly adults would find this story enthralling and good entertainment. It can be easily read in one sitting and that is what may more than likely happen to most readers because you will get emotional sucked into the plot of this story and will not want to put it down until you read that last page. First Published in the Elk Grove Citizen Newspaper

Sweet Smells

Rae Lynne Johnson's world has always revolved around her family. When she was 5 years old her father deserted the family and her perfect young world was shattered. Her father boldly leaves behind his love child from another woman for his wife to raise. Times for the Johnson family were hard , but the glue that held them together was love. Besides the heartbreak and pain of losing the head of the family, young Rae Lynne is forced to grow up quickly. Her mother falls victim to depression and Rae Lynne becomes responsible for caring for her younger brother and her mother. Because of these responsibilities she loses her childhood, and could possibly lose her future.The only peace that Rae Lynne usually finds is in the lavender patch that is practically in her backyard. The sweet smells and the beauty of nature often take her away from the problems and stresses of life. Amazingly this place of comfort would one day cause great sadness and pain for her entire family.Author Terry A. O'Neal has written a poignant story of how growing up without a father affected this young woman's life. And how the hurt and uncertainty of life was her motivation to excel.Reviewed by Simone A. Hawksof The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers