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If it Isn't Love
Discovering she has only six months to live, Jean Stapleton-Blige tries to repair the relationships with her children, who want nothing to do with her, and her minister husband, who has spent their marriage seducing other women.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2009
1 person is currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Dwayne S. Joseph
25 books155 followersDwayne S. Joseph lives by the credo, "The pen is mightier than the sword." He's been crafting engaging tales since the age of thirteen. A multi-dimensional author, Dwayne has written novels ranging from relationship drama, erotica suspense, to his favorite, mystery suspense.
It’as all about growth for Mr. Joseph. He strives to grow and improve with each novel and he he feels that’s what the readers deserve. His goal is to entertain his readers with unforgettable storylines and characters that they just can’t stop talking about.
He currently resides in Illinois with his wife, their three children, and the family dog, Duke, where is hard at work on his next novel.
It’as all about growth for Mr. Joseph. He strives to grow and improve with each novel and he he feels that’s what the readers deserve. His goal is to entertain his readers with unforgettable storylines and characters that they just can’t stop talking about.
He currently resides in Illinois with his wife, their three children, and the family dog, Duke, where is hard at work on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 9, 2021
Deceiving Cover
Had I not gotten a sneak peek into this book, I would never have read it. The cover was deceiving but the intro plunged me into the story immediately.
Loved the storyline. Minister's actions really did a number on his family and he was too arrogant to realize it. I loved his last sermon, yet it didn't motivate him to get right with God, much less his family. Great reading. My first read by this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more from him.
Had I not gotten a sneak peek into this book, I would never have read it. The cover was deceiving but the intro plunged me into the story immediately.
Loved the storyline. Minister's actions really did a number on his family and he was too arrogant to realize it. I loved his last sermon, yet it didn't motivate him to get right with God, much less his family. Great reading. My first read by this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more from him.
July 22, 2025
pretty good book. short and sweet. palette cleanser. I definitely wouldn't judge this based off the cover. like another reviewer said, if I had done that I wouldn't have read it. I really felt like it could have been longer.
February 3, 2024
1st read 4 ⭐
Pretty good story that kept my attention. Slow start and I thought the story will be more about the mother Jean, but the more I read on I got to read the effects she's lived and dealt with doing her marriage effected all three of her kids putting a string on her relationship with them.
Monica, Karen never had respect for their mother Jean because they felt she didn't have respect of herself to put up with Stewart, Jean's husband their father's cheating ways
Jeff grows to become just like his father but at the times he thought it was cool, but once falling in love he started to notice he's just like his father a womanizer.
Jean's past made her not like whites and Jeff tend to date white women.
Monica relationship becomes a fighting one when she believes she's becoming like her mother, but she also realize why her mother put up with their father's ways.
Karen marries out of her race which made her mother and father not be there for her wedding.
Karen's husband has baby mama drama that just becomes worst, but Karen sticks by her man and becomes a step mom to her husband's child.
Jean's dying and her wish is to get some kind of connection with her children and start over living her last months happy even if that means telling Stewart how she feels..
Overall great book....I didn't too much care dot the two doctors that just told too much about their own life. To me that's not professional in convincing someone of treatments or convincing someone of custody of their child. It was too much to me for doctors to go that route.
Other than that Dwayne is a great writer this story was sad, but also a lesson learn for all characters.
2nd read 2/2024 3 ⭐
Pretty good story that kept my attention. Slow start and I thought the story will be more about the mother Jean, but the more I read on I got to read the effects she's lived and dealt with doing her marriage effected all three of her kids putting a string on her relationship with them.
Monica, Karen never had respect for their mother Jean because they felt she didn't have respect of herself to put up with Stewart, Jean's husband their father's cheating ways
Jeff grows to become just like his father but at the times he thought it was cool, but once falling in love he started to notice he's just like his father a womanizer.
Jean's past made her not like whites and Jeff tend to date white women.
Monica relationship becomes a fighting one when she believes she's becoming like her mother, but she also realize why her mother put up with their father's ways.
Karen marries out of her race which made her mother and father not be there for her wedding.
Karen's husband has baby mama drama that just becomes worst, but Karen sticks by her man and becomes a step mom to her husband's child.
Jean's dying and her wish is to get some kind of connection with her children and start over living her last months happy even if that means telling Stewart how she feels..
Overall great book....I didn't too much care dot the two doctors that just told too much about their own life. To me that's not professional in convincing someone of treatments or convincing someone of custody of their child. It was too much to me for doctors to go that route.
Other than that Dwayne is a great writer this story was sad, but also a lesson learn for all characters.
2nd read 2/2024 3 ⭐
July 7, 2009
IF IT ISN’T LOVE
By Dwayne S. Joseph
Amazon Rating: 4 stars
Six Months…
Jean Stapleton-Blige has just found out she has terminal Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and she has six-months left to live. On the outside looking in her life seems great. She is married to a prominent minister, she has three successful children and lives in a beautiful house. What looks good on the outside is really a mess on the inside. The prominent minister has been unfaithful for years. Her daughters have no respect for her. Her son can not seem to be in a committed relationship for anything. With only six-months left to live, she needs to try to get her family whole again.
Jean’s daughters can not understand why she has stayed with the minister for so many years, when it is a well-known fact that the minister has been unfaithful. The girls looked at their mother like she is spineless. When her daughter’s left for college, they never looked back…that is until they got the call to come home. Jean’s son acts too much like the minister, with his womanizing ways. The kids will learn that their mother was stronger than they realized. In turn Jean will realize how her staying…had a lasting effect on her children.
Will Jean be able to bring her family back together before its too late?
IF IT ISN’T LOVE by Dwayne S. Joseph would make for an excellent book club discussion. It will make you think that while your loved ones are still here…let them know how you feel and spend as much time as you can with them…because time is not guaranteed.
Reviewed by Leona
UrbanFireBooks
www.urbanfirebooksonline.com
By Dwayne S. Joseph
Amazon Rating: 4 stars
Six Months…
Jean Stapleton-Blige has just found out she has terminal Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and she has six-months left to live. On the outside looking in her life seems great. She is married to a prominent minister, she has three successful children and lives in a beautiful house. What looks good on the outside is really a mess on the inside. The prominent minister has been unfaithful for years. Her daughters have no respect for her. Her son can not seem to be in a committed relationship for anything. With only six-months left to live, she needs to try to get her family whole again.
Jean’s daughters can not understand why she has stayed with the minister for so many years, when it is a well-known fact that the minister has been unfaithful. The girls looked at their mother like she is spineless. When her daughter’s left for college, they never looked back…that is until they got the call to come home. Jean’s son acts too much like the minister, with his womanizing ways. The kids will learn that their mother was stronger than they realized. In turn Jean will realize how her staying…had a lasting effect on her children.
Will Jean be able to bring her family back together before its too late?
IF IT ISN’T LOVE by Dwayne S. Joseph would make for an excellent book club discussion. It will make you think that while your loved ones are still here…let them know how you feel and spend as much time as you can with them…because time is not guaranteed.
Reviewed by Leona
UrbanFireBooks
www.urbanfirebooksonline.com
April 21, 2010
This is a book of family, its relationships and the impact one's actions have on one another. Dwayne S. Joseph told stories that were very emotional and tightly woven. This family consists of an adulterous preacher, his wife that has strenuous relationships with their three offspring....that is until the mother makes changes happen.
Due to the judgments and disappointments these family members have very little to do with each other with the exception of the two daughters. These sisters are very close and supportive of each other as one endures the fallout of a committed relationship that was not committed as she believed and the other the perils of deal with marriage to a wonderful husband that has a son with a woman full of jealousy and manipulation. The third sibling, a son only has a relationship with his father and it is enduring at best.
I actually read this book twice in four days as the first time, I was too emotionally invested to be fair to the book it self. I would give this book a 4.5 rating if it was available. I look forward to reading other books by Mr. Joseph and those to come.
Due to the judgments and disappointments these family members have very little to do with each other with the exception of the two daughters. These sisters are very close and supportive of each other as one endures the fallout of a committed relationship that was not committed as she believed and the other the perils of deal with marriage to a wonderful husband that has a son with a woman full of jealousy and manipulation. The third sibling, a son only has a relationship with his father and it is enduring at best.
I actually read this book twice in four days as the first time, I was too emotionally invested to be fair to the book it self. I would give this book a 4.5 rating if it was available. I look forward to reading other books by Mr. Joseph and those to come.
July 19, 2009
Leukemia,
Jean Stapleton-Blige, a wife, mother and child of God, has learned that she has six months to a year to live. While the news is disheartening, Jean has decided that this may not necessarily be a punishment, but a gift. Can she change the relationship with her and her three children before it's too late?
Once Karen, Monica and Jeff were able to leave the nest, they moved and have never been back. The girls have serious issues when it comes to their mother and have wondered why after all of the disrespect she hasn't left. While Jeff has his own issues, he's more like his dad then he'd like to be. Karen is having a baby, Monica has learned her man hasn't been faithful and Jeff is ready to settle down. With so much change in their own worlds can they adjust while mending fences?
"If It Isn't Love" by Dwayne S. Joseph was a fast and emotionally charged read. People who enjoy Dwayne S. Joseph's books will be pleased with this one.
Reviewed by: Crystal
Jean Stapleton-Blige, a wife, mother and child of God, has learned that she has six months to a year to live. While the news is disheartening, Jean has decided that this may not necessarily be a punishment, but a gift. Can she change the relationship with her and her three children before it's too late?
Once Karen, Monica and Jeff were able to leave the nest, they moved and have never been back. The girls have serious issues when it comes to their mother and have wondered why after all of the disrespect she hasn't left. While Jeff has his own issues, he's more like his dad then he'd like to be. Karen is having a baby, Monica has learned her man hasn't been faithful and Jeff is ready to settle down. With so much change in their own worlds can they adjust while mending fences?
"If It Isn't Love" by Dwayne S. Joseph was a fast and emotionally charged read. People who enjoy Dwayne S. Joseph's books will be pleased with this one.
Reviewed by: Crystal
August 11, 2009
Another fantastic book by Dwayne S. Joseph! If It Isn't Love is packed full of great lessons while being suspensful at the same time. I found myself choked up and almost in tears at one specific part near the end. I can't ever remember a fictional book getting me to that point.
If It Isn't Love is all about one family, an immediate family and their spouses/significant others. The chapters go back and forth from one family member to the next and we get an in depth look at each one. There wasn't one character I was bored with and not one character was portrayed better than any other- they all had their problems and they were all absolutely realistic which is the best part of this book. This could be anyone's family.
Don't miss it- you'll regret it!
If It Isn't Love is all about one family, an immediate family and their spouses/significant others. The chapters go back and forth from one family member to the next and we get an in depth look at each one. There wasn't one character I was bored with and not one character was portrayed better than any other- they all had their problems and they were all absolutely realistic which is the best part of this book. This could be anyone's family.
Don't miss it- you'll regret it!
March 19, 2014
Such a touching novel. A real eye opener it goes to show that only God knows when he calls you home so enjoy and live every moment of your life with limited regrets. I absolutely loved this book I would defiantly read it another 20 times. Been away from reading for a while its great to be back. A must read!! Love love love it
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews