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Pam of Babylon #3
Dream Lover
The third book in the Pam of Babylon series, Dream Lover is a compilation of character studies of the women and one man who Jack Smith left behind. Slowly, they make their way to the Long Island village of Babylon for an audience with his widow. No longer in denial and stronger than she thought possible, Pam Smith is able to confront the horror of her marriage in its totality as she draws a new picture of the man she was married to. The new discoveries she makes empowers her and she is able to maintain her strength and the grace and compassion she's known for. Truly a formidable woman, Pam conquers her worst demons in Dream Lover.
323 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
274 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Jenkins
259 books364 followersSuzanne Jenkins lives at the west Michigan lakeshore. She is the author of Pam of Babylon and the series; Don’t You Forget About Me,Dream Lover, Prayers for the Dying, Family Dynamics and The Tao of Pam. The Greeks of Beaubien Street,and The Princess of Greektown from the Greektown Stories, Alice's Summertime Adventure, The Savant of Chelsea and Someone Like You.
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Twitter @suzannejenkins3
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 8, 2018
***** A Brilliant Look At Madness
Having read this author before, I figured this book would probably include some very interesting and well-defined characters. What I didn’t expect was the depth and complexity of each person portrayed, as well as the book’s slow, steady, spot-on onion-style peel back of the rich, handsome, charming, and highly promiscuous Jack Smith––and just how damaged he is, both physically and psychologically.
But it doesn’t stop there. Some of his main sexual partners are also under the microscope, displaying their vulnerabilities and why they were so susceptible to his charms in the first place, even after their finding out he was married with children. There’s his wife, Pam, whose complete ignorance is a perfect example of a woman feeling she must play the “perfect” wife; a wife who never questions anything and just caters to her husband’s needs even though he is constantly absent. Another is a young mother with a physically handicapped child, who is touched by Jack’s attention and financial care. Add a vulnerable misfit who craves his attention; a hands-off family member who falls prey to his charms; a co-worker who gets entangled in spite of herself, and a male childhood friend who is well aware of the hell that Jack and his brother had to face growing up and has been having a long lasting affair.
After a while, I started to analyze why Jack was attracted to each of these people. What were his motives, his needs, his childhood scars that caused each of these encounters and many, many more? A complicated and no holds-barred book, to me this was a brilliant, analytical look at human frailty. HIGHLY recommend!
Having read this author before, I figured this book would probably include some very interesting and well-defined characters. What I didn’t expect was the depth and complexity of each person portrayed, as well as the book’s slow, steady, spot-on onion-style peel back of the rich, handsome, charming, and highly promiscuous Jack Smith––and just how damaged he is, both physically and psychologically.
But it doesn’t stop there. Some of his main sexual partners are also under the microscope, displaying their vulnerabilities and why they were so susceptible to his charms in the first place, even after their finding out he was married with children. There’s his wife, Pam, whose complete ignorance is a perfect example of a woman feeling she must play the “perfect” wife; a wife who never questions anything and just caters to her husband’s needs even though he is constantly absent. Another is a young mother with a physically handicapped child, who is touched by Jack’s attention and financial care. Add a vulnerable misfit who craves his attention; a hands-off family member who falls prey to his charms; a co-worker who gets entangled in spite of herself, and a male childhood friend who is well aware of the hell that Jack and his brother had to face growing up and has been having a long lasting affair.
After a while, I started to analyze why Jack was attracted to each of these people. What were his motives, his needs, his childhood scars that caused each of these encounters and many, many more? A complicated and no holds-barred book, to me this was a brilliant, analytical look at human frailty. HIGHLY recommend!
June 13, 2020
This series just keeps getting better.
November 24, 2020
an ending with a twist. Jack’s life is still unraveling. Would recommend
September 24, 2012
Well, Suzanne's done it again with more of the saga of Babylon and Jack's very prolific love life...which was heretofore unbeknownst to his devoted wife Pam. I read this book in the same wonder I read her previous novel "Pam of Babylon" which I reviewed a couple of months ago.
This one is the third book in the series, and it has only gotten more detailed and better as it's gone along!
The only thing I still can't realistically grasp is how Jack got away with having so many lovers and how poor Pam could be so willing to continue to accept them into her home for their explanations and "pouring out of their hearts." I was widowed and the only thing I would do if it happened to me would be to be very curious about the whole thing. Otherwise, I'd never have the openness and willingness to be a "mother nature" that Pam seems to be in all of Suzanne's books. This is something I've found hard to swallow in her novels. Really makes me cringe at some of the lovers.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the writing and reading about Jack's exploits and how he managed to budget time with his many affairs of the heart and lust. Just amazing juggling acts! I personally found him a reprehensible character. But, I loved the characters of Pam and Maryanne. Particularly Maryanne who was a champion from the start in her innocence and willingness to do the right thing once she found out about the philandering Jack.
For those of us who love to follow a book that's juicy without being too sexually explicit, this is the one for you. Suzanne Jenkins writes a very interesting and entertaining book. Although I'm not a fan of Jack's, I think it's interesting that I care enough to dislike him. Which only means that he's real to me! That's how well she writes.
This one is the third book in the series, and it has only gotten more detailed and better as it's gone along!
The only thing I still can't realistically grasp is how Jack got away with having so many lovers and how poor Pam could be so willing to continue to accept them into her home for their explanations and "pouring out of their hearts." I was widowed and the only thing I would do if it happened to me would be to be very curious about the whole thing. Otherwise, I'd never have the openness and willingness to be a "mother nature" that Pam seems to be in all of Suzanne's books. This is something I've found hard to swallow in her novels. Really makes me cringe at some of the lovers.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the writing and reading about Jack's exploits and how he managed to budget time with his many affairs of the heart and lust. Just amazing juggling acts! I personally found him a reprehensible character. But, I loved the characters of Pam and Maryanne. Particularly Maryanne who was a champion from the start in her innocence and willingness to do the right thing once she found out about the philandering Jack.
For those of us who love to follow a book that's juicy without being too sexually explicit, this is the one for you. Suzanne Jenkins writes a very interesting and entertaining book. Although I'm not a fan of Jack's, I think it's interesting that I care enough to dislike him. Which only means that he's real to me! That's how well she writes.
July 31, 2017
Not providing any spoilers, but this whole story was totally unbelievable. There are at present, another 12 books in the series. I won't be wasting time on any more of them!
Proofreading was so lacking that the writing was distracting. Bad grammar. Bad spelling. Words misused.
Proofreading was so lacking that the writing was distracting. Bad grammar. Bad spelling. Words misused.
September 10, 2012
This is the third book in this series, and don't think I would have as favorable opinion of this book if this was the only one I had read. When we finished Don't You Forget Me, Marie was aware that there was a long list of woman's names in a file...and that is where it is starting in this book.
Dream Lover, I don't think he was a figment of their imagination! They appear to be coming out of the woodwork now, and when this book is finished, there maybe more. Pam does seem to be adjusting to becoming a widow...and what Jack has done. We get more of a glimpse into what kind of a man Jack was. The person who would make most people's heads turn when he came into a room. He tried to make people feel at ease with him, and got to know something about him. We get different looks about the same man, and it seems like he is a different person depending on who he is with.
I would recommend you read the other two books in this series, you won't be disappointed.
I received this book through Pump Your Book Virtual Tours, and the Author Suzanne Jenkins.
Dream Lover, I don't think he was a figment of their imagination! They appear to be coming out of the woodwork now, and when this book is finished, there maybe more. Pam does seem to be adjusting to becoming a widow...and what Jack has done. We get more of a glimpse into what kind of a man Jack was. The person who would make most people's heads turn when he came into a room. He tried to make people feel at ease with him, and got to know something about him. We get different looks about the same man, and it seems like he is a different person depending on who he is with.
I would recommend you read the other two books in this series, you won't be disappointed.
I received this book through Pump Your Book Virtual Tours, and the Author Suzanne Jenkins.
June 11, 2013
1.5 of 5 stars
I enjoyed PAM OF BABYLON so much I purchased the rest of the series. In this third of five books, Suzanne Jenkins has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. Philandering dead husband Jack Smith has gone from a cheating husband to molester to adult incest with his brother to AIDS spreader. He's a one dimensional all around bad guy that Jenkins appears to added every possible abusive and sexual impropriety to, often not distinguishing between molestation and consensual relationships, perhaps because she doesn't have a grasp herself. Perhaps because the plot has become so ridiculous, I've noticed more of the writing deficits than in the first too books, but there is so much telling of backstory and passive tense verbs this is the opposite of a page turner. I want to like the remaining two books, I really do, I hope for an improvement, since I've already purchased them.
I enjoyed PAM OF BABYLON so much I purchased the rest of the series. In this third of five books, Suzanne Jenkins has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. Philandering dead husband Jack Smith has gone from a cheating husband to molester to adult incest with his brother to AIDS spreader. He's a one dimensional all around bad guy that Jenkins appears to added every possible abusive and sexual impropriety to, often not distinguishing between molestation and consensual relationships, perhaps because she doesn't have a grasp herself. Perhaps because the plot has become so ridiculous, I've noticed more of the writing deficits than in the first too books, but there is so much telling of backstory and passive tense verbs this is the opposite of a page turner. I want to like the remaining two books, I really do, I hope for an improvement, since I've already purchased them.
July 13, 2012
So this is one of the few book that I was not able to finish. Maybe it would have been better if I had read the other two books in this series. To me I don’t understand why so many women would knowingly be willing to have unprotected sex with a married man. And some of the women even knew about the other girlfriends and there were still sleeping with him! I’m sorry but there women most have some very low self-respect and self-esteem… I made it through about 75% of the book, but I just can finish it.
November 25, 2012
Real portrait of the women effected by the aftermath of Jack's death. Great characters and even better story. I love the romance elements that are real life based with flaws and all. I really have enjoyed this series so far, awesome!
July 26, 2018
I am totally on to book 10.
These books have me addicted! I go to sleep thinking about what is next for Pan, and I wake up ready to read about her days and her reactions! Why are these books not offered in a set? It irritates me because I am ready to go right to the next adventure! This author, Suzanne Jenkins is now embedded in my heart with Beverly Jenkins, Bridgett Manie, Brenda Barrett, Brenda Jackson, and many other great authors. Yes, Suzanne is my second non Black author. Well-written, structured, and captivating!
These books have me addicted! I go to sleep thinking about what is next for Pan, and I wake up ready to read about her days and her reactions! Why are these books not offered in a set? It irritates me because I am ready to go right to the next adventure! This author, Suzanne Jenkins is now embedded in my heart with Beverly Jenkins, Bridgett Manie, Brenda Barrett, Brenda Jackson, and many other great authors. Yes, Suzanne is my second non Black author. Well-written, structured, and captivating!
September 7, 2025
More is Revealed
Jack Smith was like a pasha. He had a wealth of personality and money that afforded him access to multiple activities and lovers. He was also a degenerate liar, keeping every lover mostly in the dark about his other conquests. Several of these affairs are revealed in Dream Lover, a phrase Jack used to describe one woman who had a childlike appearance. Each of these revalatory women felt compelled to confront Pam with Jack's infidelity and their own promiscuity, leading Pam to practice the art of the socially adept. We could all learn a thing or two from her calm demeanor.
As to writing style: this installment felt a little more like a telling story versus the showing story it had been in the first two books. Showing means like a movie playing in your head. In addition, this book had a lot of proofreading errors, more of them in the last half of the book. I didn't report any of them through the Kindle app, because I was still thoroughly engaged in discovering the next sordid debacle of Jack Smith and how his survivors were handling their lives 5-months post Jack.
Jack Smith was like a pasha. He had a wealth of personality and money that afforded him access to multiple activities and lovers. He was also a degenerate liar, keeping every lover mostly in the dark about his other conquests. Several of these affairs are revealed in Dream Lover, a phrase Jack used to describe one woman who had a childlike appearance. Each of these revalatory women felt compelled to confront Pam with Jack's infidelity and their own promiscuity, leading Pam to practice the art of the socially adept. We could all learn a thing or two from her calm demeanor.
As to writing style: this installment felt a little more like a telling story versus the showing story it had been in the first two books. Showing means like a movie playing in your head. In addition, this book had a lot of proofreading errors, more of them in the last half of the book. I didn't report any of them through the Kindle app, because I was still thoroughly engaged in discovering the next sordid debacle of Jack Smith and how his survivors were handling their lives 5-months post Jack.
November 13, 2017
The author is a good storyteller but the story, for me, was just embarrassing and most of the characters unsympathetic. The ending was abrupt and some of the grammar, spelling and vocabulary was poorly edited: awe instead of aww, ball instead of bawl, "there was" when it should have been "there were". I gave it 3 stars because I kept reading it but I was put off at the same time. I bought this as part of a 5 book set for 99 cents, FYI
May 15, 2019
Dream lover
What a story, continuing on about Jack and his lust for others of both sexes. The fact that he left them all with AIDS meant nothing, but blowing their worlds apart. This story is not one I would normally read but it has given lots of insight as to what happens in people's lives when they have to deal with a life sentence with no good outcome. This is my review of a free Arc read and one I did find enjoying. This review is mine and mine alone. Norma Gorrill
What a story, continuing on about Jack and his lust for others of both sexes. The fact that he left them all with AIDS meant nothing, but blowing their worlds apart. This story is not one I would normally read but it has given lots of insight as to what happens in people's lives when they have to deal with a life sentence with no good outcome. This is my review of a free Arc read and one I did find enjoying. This review is mine and mine alone. Norma Gorrill
November 7, 2023
I find it hard to believe all the characters who are HIV positive or have full-blown AIDS had no clue they had it. Jack apparently knew and continued on his path of destroying so many lives. What an animal.
It was interesting meeting one of Jack's male lovers. The older women in the family take a backseat to Jack's kids as they finally find out their mom has AIDS.
It was interesting meeting one of Jack's male lovers. The older women in the family take a backseat to Jack's kids as they finally find out their mom has AIDS.
March 27, 2018
Consequences after a death
Liked honesty of characters and reality of each one's candidness in their portrayal. The interaction between all was realistic and easy to comprehend, knowing the diverse backgrounds of each mourner who interacted with Pam free Jack's death.
Liked honesty of characters and reality of each one's candidness in their portrayal. The interaction between all was realistic and easy to comprehend, knowing the diverse backgrounds of each mourner who interacted with Pam free Jack's death.
October 27, 2019
Clearer understanding
So many changes with the three women. Pam gets stronger, Marie is still messed up and not ready to face the truth. Sandra loses the baby and will still have the effects of Jack Smith but with a different focus. Ready for the next book in series
So many changes with the three women. Pam gets stronger, Marie is still messed up and not ready to face the truth. Sandra loses the baby and will still have the effects of Jack Smith but with a different focus. Ready for the next book in series
April 14, 2018
Good
the women who find that this man was a very over sexed.the wife who had no idea and then to find out she had aids.
the women who find that this man was a very over sexed.the wife who had no idea and then to find out she had aids.
July 28, 2018
Good
Interesting keeps my interest at least the writer is keeping the characters involved showing that you can live with the virus and the disease
Interesting keeps my interest at least the writer is keeping the characters involved showing that you can live with the virus and the disease
December 4, 2018
Wow!
What did I just read. He what? There were how many? I....this is crazy. The story line is amazing. Didn't see it coming.
What did I just read. He what? There were how many? I....this is crazy. The story line is amazing. Didn't see it coming.
February 21, 2021
Powerful story
I would have given this book 5 stars, but I found it a little difficult to follow at times. Could have used a good editor.
I would have given this book 5 stars, but I found it a little difficult to follow at times. Could have used a good editor.
November 10, 2021
The twisted story continues.
July 18, 2024
Okay read
It was a different kind of read. Not my usual genre.
Stepped outside of the box and read it anyway.
It was a different kind of read. Not my usual genre.
Stepped outside of the box and read it anyway.
September 16, 2012
The third book in the Pam of Babylon series bring a lot of answers to questions from books one and two. The fourth book in the series Prayers for the Dying will be out soon. Check out Suzanne’s website for more information about this great series.
While I usually stay away from books that deal with extra-material affairs, I am so glad I have read these three books. I do not stay away from them for any major reason or because I might be a prude. I only stay away because reading them brings back many hurtful and painful memories from when I was married. That being said I am sure you can guess that I was on the receiving end of a husband that enjoyed the romp in the hay with others.
In this third book, we see Pam going through more painful encounters with women from her husband’s past. A past that is filled with deceit. With the deceit comes the realization that Pam did not fully know or understand her husband. This is something we have all experienced. No fully knowing what is in someone else’s mind, their thoughts to reasons for their actions. After reading step back from your relationship and ask yourself, “Do I truly know this person? What could I do to know them better?”
Reading a book is a learning process. No matter what the book is about we all learn something about ourselves and possibly how we might handle the situation. Yes, we all say when we hear about someone cheating on his or her spouse, “I would never go for that. I would leave them in a heartbeat”. However, would you truly leave them? Would you be willing to throw everything away? Yes, they made a mistake, but they deserve forgiveness. I am sure many people reading this will have the answer a big fat NO! However, think for a minute. Is that deceit any different than lying to your spouse about that person you keep flirting with in the office? What about not telling your spouse about that speeding ticket or that check you just wrote will over draw the account. Yes, sometimes we lie to help protect the feeling of others, but are we really protecting them? There is no such thing as a little white lie. Even an omission of something may be classified as a lie to some people.
Take Jack, he was deceitful to Pam and several other women throughout the affairs. Some of the women knew about the others while others knew nothing about what was happening.
In this third book Pam is coming to terms with the life Jack lead. She is meeting new women. Discovering new, hurtful, painful feelings from Jack’s actions while trying to keep a calm stanza while dealing with the people she encounters.
Threw out the book we encounter several women from Jacks past. Each chapter where a new woman is encountered is told from their POV. While I do not like reading a book with different POV’s, this book did not feel cumbersome. It was very easy to switch from one POV to the next. I enjoyed reading how some of the females thought that if Pam keep rein on her husband then they would not be suffering the current emotional pain. I felt like some of the women thought it was Pam’s fault Jack cheated on her. It really got to me that these women did not step up and admit they played a part with the deceit. Granted during each different POV the women stated that Jack told them he was married and would not leave his wife or a different lie. These women did not realize that they were offered a chance to walk away to not suffer any emotional pain. Each female knew what she was getting into at the beginning; none of them refused Jack anything.
Each book in this series is an awakening for Pam. She is learning so much about herself and the husband she never knew. If you are, looking for more than just a quick weekend read then check out this series. Suzanne has started to take readers on a journey where learning about the past awakens a better, stronger person that we once were.
Thanks for another great read Suzanne.
The bunnies and I give this book 4 carrots.
I was gifted this book as part of a VBT. I received no compensation for reading/reviewing this book. The above review is my own opinion and not a paid review. To form your own opinion please support the author and purchase a copy of this book.
While I usually stay away from books that deal with extra-material affairs, I am so glad I have read these three books. I do not stay away from them for any major reason or because I might be a prude. I only stay away because reading them brings back many hurtful and painful memories from when I was married. That being said I am sure you can guess that I was on the receiving end of a husband that enjoyed the romp in the hay with others.
In this third book, we see Pam going through more painful encounters with women from her husband’s past. A past that is filled with deceit. With the deceit comes the realization that Pam did not fully know or understand her husband. This is something we have all experienced. No fully knowing what is in someone else’s mind, their thoughts to reasons for their actions. After reading step back from your relationship and ask yourself, “Do I truly know this person? What could I do to know them better?”
Reading a book is a learning process. No matter what the book is about we all learn something about ourselves and possibly how we might handle the situation. Yes, we all say when we hear about someone cheating on his or her spouse, “I would never go for that. I would leave them in a heartbeat”. However, would you truly leave them? Would you be willing to throw everything away? Yes, they made a mistake, but they deserve forgiveness. I am sure many people reading this will have the answer a big fat NO! However, think for a minute. Is that deceit any different than lying to your spouse about that person you keep flirting with in the office? What about not telling your spouse about that speeding ticket or that check you just wrote will over draw the account. Yes, sometimes we lie to help protect the feeling of others, but are we really protecting them? There is no such thing as a little white lie. Even an omission of something may be classified as a lie to some people.
Take Jack, he was deceitful to Pam and several other women throughout the affairs. Some of the women knew about the others while others knew nothing about what was happening.
In this third book Pam is coming to terms with the life Jack lead. She is meeting new women. Discovering new, hurtful, painful feelings from Jack’s actions while trying to keep a calm stanza while dealing with the people she encounters.
Threw out the book we encounter several women from Jacks past. Each chapter where a new woman is encountered is told from their POV. While I do not like reading a book with different POV’s, this book did not feel cumbersome. It was very easy to switch from one POV to the next. I enjoyed reading how some of the females thought that if Pam keep rein on her husband then they would not be suffering the current emotional pain. I felt like some of the women thought it was Pam’s fault Jack cheated on her. It really got to me that these women did not step up and admit they played a part with the deceit. Granted during each different POV the women stated that Jack told them he was married and would not leave his wife or a different lie. These women did not realize that they were offered a chance to walk away to not suffer any emotional pain. Each female knew what she was getting into at the beginning; none of them refused Jack anything.
Each book in this series is an awakening for Pam. She is learning so much about herself and the husband she never knew. If you are, looking for more than just a quick weekend read then check out this series. Suzanne has started to take readers on a journey where learning about the past awakens a better, stronger person that we once were.
Thanks for another great read Suzanne.
The bunnies and I give this book 4 carrots.
I was gifted this book as part of a VBT. I received no compensation for reading/reviewing this book. The above review is my own opinion and not a paid review. To form your own opinion please support the author and purchase a copy of this book.
September 21, 2012
In the third book of the Pam of Babylon series, Dream Lover, the saga of Jack Smith's widening trail of deceit continues when the reader is introduced to the many women and one man who Jack has had a sexual relationship with over the years. The author continues to weave a spellbinding and sad tale of the legacy and wide spread ramifications that is left from Jack's sexual deviant and promiscuous behavior. Just when I thought that this series couldn't get any better, author Suzanne Jenkins pulls out all the stops and takes the reader further down the rabbit hole with more tantalizing and earth shattering revelations.
When Don't You Forget About Me (book 2) ended, Marie finds a list of women's names in a file that belonged to Jack. Dream Lover seamlessly picks up on that portion of the storyline with the unveiling of the other women and man in Jack's life, while continuing to keep the reader up-to-date with what is happening to Pam, Marie and Sandra. Book 2 was just the tip of the iceberg when it delved into Jack's dual lifestyle, now in book 3 the author goes all in and reveals the depth of his deviant predatory sexual behavior and the complex widespread web of deceit that he has cast out over the years.
Masterfully written in the third person narrative with alternating chapters dedicated to the individual perspectives of each character involved with Jack, the reader is introduced to the new characters and how they became involved with Jack. The author brings the characters to life with a richly detailed description of their complex personalities and lives, they literally jump off the page and draw the readers into their individual stories. The author also continues the individual journeys of Pam, Marie and Sandra with updates on how they are struggling to moving forward with their lives while continuing to deal with the latest fallout of dark revelations that are uncovered.
Dream Lover continues to take the reader on a complicated emotional roller coaster ride with enough drama, suspense, twists and turns that will keep them holding onto the arms of their chair. This compelling series packs a powerful punch, and the author isn't through as she keeps her readers completely hooked on the series with yet another cliffhanger, and leaves them wanting more of the saga that will be revealed in Prayers For The Dying, book 4 of the Pam of Babylon series. *sigh*
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
When Don't You Forget About Me (book 2) ended, Marie finds a list of women's names in a file that belonged to Jack. Dream Lover seamlessly picks up on that portion of the storyline with the unveiling of the other women and man in Jack's life, while continuing to keep the reader up-to-date with what is happening to Pam, Marie and Sandra. Book 2 was just the tip of the iceberg when it delved into Jack's dual lifestyle, now in book 3 the author goes all in and reveals the depth of his deviant predatory sexual behavior and the complex widespread web of deceit that he has cast out over the years.
Masterfully written in the third person narrative with alternating chapters dedicated to the individual perspectives of each character involved with Jack, the reader is introduced to the new characters and how they became involved with Jack. The author brings the characters to life with a richly detailed description of their complex personalities and lives, they literally jump off the page and draw the readers into their individual stories. The author also continues the individual journeys of Pam, Marie and Sandra with updates on how they are struggling to moving forward with their lives while continuing to deal with the latest fallout of dark revelations that are uncovered.
Dream Lover continues to take the reader on a complicated emotional roller coaster ride with enough drama, suspense, twists and turns that will keep them holding onto the arms of their chair. This compelling series packs a powerful punch, and the author isn't through as she keeps her readers completely hooked on the series with yet another cliffhanger, and leaves them wanting more of the saga that will be revealed in Prayers For The Dying, book 4 of the Pam of Babylon series. *sigh*
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
March 28, 2015
The best word I can use to describe this book is "tedious." We meet a host of characters, both male and female, who were involved sexually with Jack Smith. I am not sure whether the author intended for us to be sympathetic to these characters, but I find it exceedingly difficult to sympathize or even empathize with individuals who have lost their lover, when morally, he should never have been their lover in the first place. There is only one character in the book with good morals, and that is Pam, but she is a quite unrealistic character in other ways. I find ridiculous the notion that she thinks she owes these people something (both monetary and emotionally) because they were her husband's lovers and now that he's dead they have lost some of their means of support.
Although I am no authority of the subject, I do not believe the author has a very good understanding of the difference between HIV and AIDS. Some of the characters with full-blown AIDS are merrily waltzing through life looking and feeling great and having unprotected sex. Aside from this unlikelihood, we are supposed to care about these characters, but they seem to have very little in the way of moral compass or common sense, making caring difficult.
We finally hear from Pam's children when they learn she has AIDS. They, with whom we have a chance of empathizing, are given short shrift, approximately two pages each, where they blindly accept their mother's illness without asking her questions. The author seems to care more about Jack's lovers than his children.
This book, the third in the series, continues to be an exercise in contradiction; one minute Pam is despondent, the next, elated. She feels she absolutely has to have Sharon in her life, and then she is ready to cut her off a minute later. Pam's and Jack's mothers hate each other, and then right away are best of friends, with no explanation of how that might have come about. Steve is a money-hungry manwhore out to bag Marie for personal gain, and before we blink he is in love with her and worships at her feet; not to mention that he calls her every name in the book and wants to kill her (rightly so!), and several pages later he does a complete turnaround and wants her to live with him.
This author would benefit from a good story editor who is unafraid to tell her when her characters are unrealistic or unsympathetic and to keep her from having her characters jump from one extreme to another with no explanation. Although there are several more books in this series, I am done.
Although I am no authority of the subject, I do not believe the author has a very good understanding of the difference between HIV and AIDS. Some of the characters with full-blown AIDS are merrily waltzing through life looking and feeling great and having unprotected sex. Aside from this unlikelihood, we are supposed to care about these characters, but they seem to have very little in the way of moral compass or common sense, making caring difficult.
We finally hear from Pam's children when they learn she has AIDS. They, with whom we have a chance of empathizing, are given short shrift, approximately two pages each, where they blindly accept their mother's illness without asking her questions. The author seems to care more about Jack's lovers than his children.
This book, the third in the series, continues to be an exercise in contradiction; one minute Pam is despondent, the next, elated. She feels she absolutely has to have Sharon in her life, and then she is ready to cut her off a minute later. Pam's and Jack's mothers hate each other, and then right away are best of friends, with no explanation of how that might have come about. Steve is a money-hungry manwhore out to bag Marie for personal gain, and before we blink he is in love with her and worships at her feet; not to mention that he calls her every name in the book and wants to kill her (rightly so!), and several pages later he does a complete turnaround and wants her to live with him.
This author would benefit from a good story editor who is unafraid to tell her when her characters are unrealistic or unsympathetic and to keep her from having her characters jump from one extreme to another with no explanation. Although there are several more books in this series, I am done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2012
When I see a lot of the reviews for all three books, I find a lot of the negative ones missing the point of a book review.
A book review should benefit the writer as well as the reader but instead the reviews seem rude and very immature. Every person out there can relate to a book or the characters. So what if a character is wishy washy? When Pam of Babylon opens you meet Jack and then Sandra, each Character is slowly brought to life. By the time Jack dies--the real deep part of the story starts to pull you in. You soon find out what each person feels, breathes and lives about their lives. Lives they thought they had. It's a rude awakening. The things in life we all have experienced in some form.
Pam in my opinion is on a journey, she has so many questions about who and what her life was and is about, you are along for the ride. Suzanne the writer has given you the "eyes wide shut" glasses to wear. This is real life and people sometimes can't handle that. They don't want to know this is how life is for others or maybe they can relate?!
By the time I made it to Dream lover I was amazed that so much time had passed and who didn't wish they could get in Jack's face?! I couldn't believe a man could get away with all this but remember people do this every day and they do get away with it. Fools some of us are to the people we love or think we love.
I want to know where Pam goes from here, I need to know. If you got the one thing I did from this series, it's that no matter how blindsided Pam was, you want to know she beat this bullshit life she lived in some way and damn it people did learn and benefit from the mess Jack made of their lives even if he passed Aids/HIV on to them. They over came or adapted.
Every moment we spend with a person teaches us something about ourselves, even when that person let's us down. Yes Jack really did a fine job of that. Yet it brought strangers together, they had the choice to walk forward or simply walk away
Just like the choice we have to finish a book and say hey I loved it, it made me cry, I hated it, and so on...However you don't get to tell the author how to write their story, never let the word horrible pass your lips because writing isn't dictated to us, its a story that comes to life in a person's head and they write it down and share it with us the audience.
A book review should benefit the writer as well as the reader but instead the reviews seem rude and very immature. Every person out there can relate to a book or the characters. So what if a character is wishy washy? When Pam of Babylon opens you meet Jack and then Sandra, each Character is slowly brought to life. By the time Jack dies--the real deep part of the story starts to pull you in. You soon find out what each person feels, breathes and lives about their lives. Lives they thought they had. It's a rude awakening. The things in life we all have experienced in some form.
Pam in my opinion is on a journey, she has so many questions about who and what her life was and is about, you are along for the ride. Suzanne the writer has given you the "eyes wide shut" glasses to wear. This is real life and people sometimes can't handle that. They don't want to know this is how life is for others or maybe they can relate?!
By the time I made it to Dream lover I was amazed that so much time had passed and who didn't wish they could get in Jack's face?! I couldn't believe a man could get away with all this but remember people do this every day and they do get away with it. Fools some of us are to the people we love or think we love.
I want to know where Pam goes from here, I need to know. If you got the one thing I did from this series, it's that no matter how blindsided Pam was, you want to know she beat this bullshit life she lived in some way and damn it people did learn and benefit from the mess Jack made of their lives even if he passed Aids/HIV on to them. They over came or adapted.
Every moment we spend with a person teaches us something about ourselves, even when that person let's us down. Yes Jack really did a fine job of that. Yet it brought strangers together, they had the choice to walk forward or simply walk away
Just like the choice we have to finish a book and say hey I loved it, it made me cry, I hated it, and so on...However you don't get to tell the author how to write their story, never let the word horrible pass your lips because writing isn't dictated to us, its a story that comes to life in a person's head and they write it down and share it with us the audience.
September 13, 2012
The MOST INTENSE book so far!
Ms. Jenkins has the reader so engrossed in the character's actions by the time you realize it....
"Ashton" is bidding "Pam" farewell.
Of the three books, I would have to say this is my favorite.
It's just so IN YOUR FACE.....Characters are coming from all angles. Each person has something that "Jack" wanted/needed and they all seem to want to talk to "Pam".
I truly enjoyed "Melissa", she was the real smack in the face that "Pam" needed.
(Trust me on that one)
It just makes me laugh that even though "Pam" didn't know any of "Jack's" little misdeeds, most of they knew about the others.
I mean in all honesty if you're married to a man and you don't know what is actually going on in his life day to day...what is that really saying about your marriage?
It's kinda sad.
The hardest part of the whole book..... chapters 35/36, having been through it...I couldn't help but cry.
I look forward to seeing how the rest of the story plays out....
Does "Marie and Steve" make it? What is his big secret?
What happens with "Sandra and Tom"? Does chapter 36 make them stronger?
Does "Pam" sue the hospital? Is she going to "Dale" again?
Gosh darn it I need the next book...LOL
September 12, 2014
I would really want to give it 2.5 stars. I got this book as a Kindle Daily Deal for free. I didn't read the summary so I didn't know what the book was about--only that it was well-received. Based upon the title, I thought it was going to be romantic literature. I was wrong.
This book is an odd mixture of first person narrative (of nearly 20 different people) and third person omniscient perspective. The constant switching between perspectives gets old.
The writing and editing feels a bit amateurish. The author uses words that sound like the correct word but aren't (homophones). For example, using "sludge hammer" repeatedly when the correct term is "sledge hammer" and "sexual deviate" instead of "sexual deviant."
The dialog is often awkward and missing opening or closing quotes so sometimes it requires a re-scan of a page to determine if something is a thought or spoken aloud. There are various typos and grammatical errors that I've come to expect from self-published work.
All that said, the subject matter and the way the author tells the story is unusual, intriguing, and moving. While it does have some romantic moments, this book is more like a soap opera with its switches of character perspective and dramatic emotional tension.
This book is an odd mixture of first person narrative (of nearly 20 different people) and third person omniscient perspective. The constant switching between perspectives gets old.
The writing and editing feels a bit amateurish. The author uses words that sound like the correct word but aren't (homophones). For example, using "sludge hammer" repeatedly when the correct term is "sledge hammer" and "sexual deviate" instead of "sexual deviant."
The dialog is often awkward and missing opening or closing quotes so sometimes it requires a re-scan of a page to determine if something is a thought or spoken aloud. There are various typos and grammatical errors that I've come to expect from self-published work.
All that said, the subject matter and the way the author tells the story is unusual, intriguing, and moving. While it does have some romantic moments, this book is more like a soap opera with its switches of character perspective and dramatic emotional tension.
June 26, 2012
Everything in the 3rd books different from the rest, it started out with stories from different people that Jack was having sexual relationships with. Most of those people that were in his life really thought he was insane. I also got the feeling that some of them hated him. Pam has to go through a lot more hard times and embarassment first because she gets visits from some og this people and because she discovers that two employees from her favorite store know about her AIDS so she is forced to tell her kids before anyboy else tells them.
Pam discovered a whole lot more about Jack and his secret life (not so secret anymore). I don't know where she gets all that strength and patience after knowing mostly everything about him. Lots of things happened with Sarah and Tom, Mary and Steve and I really did not in a million years would have expected detective Andrews reaction when Pam told him the truth. But the good thing is that she finds a real person that seems to be a really nice guy.
Pam discovered a whole lot more about Jack and his secret life (not so secret anymore). I don't know where she gets all that strength and patience after knowing mostly everything about him. Lots of things happened with Sarah and Tom, Mary and Steve and I really did not in a million years would have expected detective Andrews reaction when Pam told him the truth. But the good thing is that she finds a real person that seems to be a really nice guy.
September 14, 2012
I can’t even begin to know how I’d react if I had to deal with all that Pam has to deal with. The shock of losing your husband so suddenly, then having to deal with ALL his indiscretions. I don’t think I could do it with the grace that Pam had. No, I know I couldn’t. It would feel like you had been married to a stranger, that the man you thought was your husband was a figment of your imagination. But Jack was real all right, he was a real…I don’t even know a word that would describe him. I definitely didn’t like him, but he sure was good at what he did. What I want to know is how he could hide his true self from so many, for so long!
I had to keep reminding myself that this was a book of fiction. It was so well written that it was like reading a true story. It seemed like something you’d see on 20/20. I think this would make an amazing movie!!
I thought this book, being the third in the series, would start winding down some. Man, was I wrong. This book had the biggest shocker of them all. I can’t wait to read the next in the series, Prayers For The Dying.
I had to keep reminding myself that this was a book of fiction. It was so well written that it was like reading a true story. It seemed like something you’d see on 20/20. I think this would make an amazing movie!!
I thought this book, being the third in the series, would start winding down some. Man, was I wrong. This book had the biggest shocker of them all. I can’t wait to read the next in the series, Prayers For The Dying.
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